Loosen The Bible Belt

This weeks guest is writer Joy Priest, Winner of the 2019 Donald Hall Prize for Poetry for her upcoming release HORSEPOWER (Pitt Poetry Series)  The three dive into Joy's experience as a Fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, a "progressive" haven for the LGBTQ community, that is still overwhelmingly white and male.  It's a great conversation about poetry, progress and owning your shit. You know the talks you have with people that you don't want to end? This was one of those.  Settle in for a great talk. PART 2 will be out next week.  Find more about Joy Priest HERE  Order a copy of her book HORSEPOWER  HERE  

Jay and Kristen sit down with comedian Tyrone Maclin from Buffalo NY. Kristen and Tyrone have been friends for years, and the trio dive into race relations, comedy and the Buffalo PD    If you like this episode, you can find all our episodes and BONUS content at patreon.com/loosenthebiblebelt

This week, we have a pod-swap episode with The Sacred Collective, another show that our engineer/co-producer Caleb works on, from his network, Post-Christian Podcasting. In this episode of The Sacred Collective: Brien checks in with friend-of-the-show, one of his closest personal friends, Rev. Dr. Scotty Williams, about the recent issues surrounding the civil unrest in America, following George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis. Scotty is a voice of great insight on this topic--born in Louisiana; raised in the Twin Cities; and now Reverend of All Souls Swiss Reformed Church in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The Sacred Collective and Post-Christian Podcasting is beyond blessed to be able to provide a platform for important, excellent, patient, and insightful voices like Scotty's at this time.

Jay and Kristen have a great round-table conversation with a wonderful guest; Cheryl Ingram is: a member of Jay's church, a fan of Kristen's comedy, and a conservative Trump-supporter with a very open mind. This is just a wonderful example of a discussion that exemplifies how to "disagree well"!

Dave Martin, comedian and podcaster, joins Jay and Kristen with a bit of Canadian insight into the wild, ever-shifting world of American politics. Dave can be found at www.davemartinworld.com @davemartinworld

Hey yall, Kristen Becker here.  Before I left LA, I went to a protest and asked a woman a question: "How long will we need to protest before we see real, tangible change?"  Listen to her answer. Really listen. It's 6 mins. You have the time  Her name is Ayappo. (Not sure if I spelled this correct)  Take care of each other.  KB   

This one is heavy ya'll, but what isn't these days? Friend and Pastor Lawrence Richardson sit down with Jay and Kristen last Sunday to catch up with what is Happening in Minneapolis. Jay, Caleb and Lawrence all live in Minneapolis. Which was burning at the time.  Resources to Support Minneapolis HERE Follow Rev Larry HERE   

It's a Loosen the Bible Belt Tour reunion, as Kristen and Jay spend some time catching up and reminiscing with their old fellow LTBB tour-mate, Dwayne. This episode revisits the tour that had it all--laughter, tears, day drinking, and verbal violence. Buckle up! @lifesaparty10 @kristenbeckercomedy @jaybakker @postxianpodcasting www.patreon.com/loosenthebiblebelt

Anddy Egan Thorpe is a comic,  a podcaster and a pop culture junkie.  He is  also the creator of LINDSAY: A Messy Comedy Show in NYC.  Jay and Kristen chat with Anddy about his life after a dramatic weight loss, body image and society in bit the hetero and LGBTQ world and why Lindsay Lohan sent him a personal message  Find Anddy HERE

Jay has noticed a lot of scapegoating in today's media climate, so we reached out to Jared Holt of Right Wing Watch to talk about truth in journalism, and end up diving into the Jim Bakker/Silver Solution scandal.  Some of you may have heard that Jim Bakker has suffered a stroke. The LTBB crew sends love and healing energy to his family in these difficult times.  Find Jared Holt HERE

  Steve Slocum used to be a missionary for Christ, now he is a on a mission for mankind. Jay and Kristen dive deep with Steve about the rampant abuse that can occur in an isolated missionary community and how Steve's experience with his  Muslim friends in Kazhakstan changed his perspective.  In the years after 9/11, Slocum watched with concern as Muslims were misrepresented and feared. He authored a book – “Why Do They Hate Us? Making Peace with the Muslim World” – to set the record straight on the peaceful mainstream of Islam. He founded Salaam in 2018 to help bridge the growing gap between Muslims and non-Muslims. Get Steve's Book HERE More about Salaam at www.salaamusa.org    

John Tole and His Weapons Grade Faith John Tole is a comedian who loves Jesus and Freedom, in that order. We think? No it's definitely freedom THEN Jesus. Maybe it's freedom FROM Jesus?  Give it a listen and tell us?  Find out more about John Tole at www.johntole.net  Twitter:@johntole  

Loosen the Bible Belt is proud to introduce our new weekly bonus segment "Episodes of Indulgence"  Here is a little taste of what to expect  For just a few $$ a month, you get access to our weekly roundtable with Jay, Kristen and audio engineer Caleb Rowe.  PLUS you get the peace of mind of knowing you helped create positive content in these very divisive times.  go sign up now!  THANK YOU !  

Allie Genereaux is a Boston based Stand Up comedian and player for the Boston Renegades football team.  Jay and Kristen talk about quarantine comedy, what it is like to be a trans woman in the Woman's Football Alliance and whether or not Ja Rule is about to become a WFL magnate.  Find more about Allie HERE  more episodes available at www.patreon.com/loosenthebiblebelt.     

Before COVID-19, Mehran Khaghani was a comic in NYC, in his current life he is a trophy wife in the Catskills. Jay and Kristen sit down to talk about him about Bernie endorsing Biden, marrying well and when is the right time to try out a new country? Find out more about Mehran HERE Mehran Khaghani is a professional stand up comedian who lives in New York City, has been on TV a bunch, is a regular at the Comedy Cellar and kind of says a lot of gross stuff. Support the podcast and get fun bonus content from Jay and Kristen at Patreon.com/loosenthebiblebelt 

Jay and Kristen sit down with Kelli Dunham, fresh off her recent appearance in the COVID-19 ICU in NYC. Yes, you read that right .Read her story here Kelli Dunham is the genderqueer nurse writer nerd comic so common in modern Brooklyn. Kelli is the author of seven books of nonfiction and her writing has appeared on Autostraddle, the New Republic, Time.com, Thought Catalog, Lady Science and NPR.com. Kelli's latest comedy album Not the Gym Teacher is available in all the usual places and she is hard at work on a hilarious collection of essays about death and grief. Support us and get bonus content on PATREON                    

Order merch from Mishka, and see where he will be performing next at : www.mishkashubaly.com   After receiving an expensive MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, Mishka Shubaly promptly realized he was more interested in playing music in dive bars than writing. He lived out of a Toyota minivan for a year, touring non-stop, and shared the stage with artists like The Strokes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and The Decemberists among others. He’s become a cult favorite, opening nationally for comedy iconoclast Doug Stanhope, penning the soundtrack for The Unbookables documentary, and headlining the Altercation Punk Comedy Tour. Adrian Grenier played drums for a new single and Shubaly’s most recent record “Coward’s Path” has won praise from Johnny Depp and Joe Perry.

Kristen sits down with Chef John Currence for a candid conversation in this free taste of the bonus content offered to our Patreon subscribers! www.patreon.com/loosenthebiblebelt @ltbb_tour

  Jay and Kristen talk to Mahdia Lynn, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Masjid Al-Rabia in Chicago, Illinois. www.masjidalrabia.com Follow us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/loosenthebiblebelt  

Jay and Kristen talk to Pastor Lawrence Richardson of  Linden Hills United Church of Christ, the first black transgender person ever to serve in Minneapolis clergy.  Follow us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/loosenthebiblebelt

Jay and Kristen are blown away by Steve Pieters, the HIV/AIDS activist and pastor with MCCLA that made history together with Jay's mother Tammy Faye Bakker in 1985 through their honest and frank conversation about his AIDS diagnosis, his perilous treatment, and her acceptance of and compassion toward him as both a gay man fighting against a death sentence and as a Christian. We find out how he not only survived, but how he thrived and lived a whole life in between that historic conversation and today. Steve's story moves our hosts as they remember the legacy of tolerance and empathy of Jay's mother and what she meant to the world. Do not listen without tissues! Follow us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/loosenthebiblebelt

Jay and Kristen talk to Lauren Duca, self-described citizen activist, feminist dyke, and author of How to Start a Revolution: Young People and the Future of American Politics. They talk about the extremism of current public discourse, her struggle with online attacks and a bullying campaign led by Tucker Carlson following her appearance on his show. The conversation also includes Lauren's experience with depression, mind expanding drugs and why she now wishes more days are Sundays.  Follow us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/loosenthebiblebelt

Today Jay and Kristen talk to our first international guest, educator Jarral Boyd, an old pal of Kristen's now living in Berlin. Jarral talks about her allyship training workshops, roller derby, how German schools are doing right by their young students, and believing in each-other.  Follow us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/loosenthebiblebelt

Today Jay and Kristen meet Ed Popil A.K.A. RuPaul's Drag Race alum Mrs. Kasha Davis. Ed talks with our hosts about growing up gay in Scranton, performing in drag for kids, marriage, sobriety, and what happens when Santa gets paired with an unexpected Mrs. Claus.  Find Mrs. Kasha Davis here http://kashadavis.com/index.html And on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mrskashadavis Follow us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/loosenthebiblebelt

Today Jay and Kristen get to know storyteller and comedian Penny Sterling. She details her experience coming out as transgender while working in sports broadcasting and what it was like to discover and hide her true identity as a child in small-town upstate New York. Find out more about Penny's one woman shows: Spy in the House of Men and ShMILF Life at https://www.penny-sterling.com/ Follow us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/loosenthebiblebelt

This week we are giving you a sneak preview of future bonus episodes for our Patreon subscribers, but this one's on us! Happy New Year! And what a way to ring in the new year! Kristen Becker goes solo with author and musician Amy "Bingo" Bingaman, the voice behind our theme song Sunday at the Ward. Bingo and Kristen talk about mental illness, her hospitalization, songwriting, her book, and so much much more (there might be a cameo by Bingo's partner, Doug Stanhope, too) If you'd like to hear more like this join our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/loosenthebiblebelt You can find Bingo here: https://twitter.com/bingobingaman

Today Jay and Kristen have a deep discussion with pastor Juan Huertas of Grace Community United Methodist Church in Shreveport Louisiana. They discuss the dynamics of progressive church congregations, the unspoken racism that can exist in any church community, and whether or not a church should be challenging and asking of its members rather than just providing comfort for them. This and more! Find out more about Juan Huertas: https://about.me/spiritstirrer Follow us on Patreon

Our third episode features our hosts Jay Bakker and Kristen Becker giving a little back story about how they met and started touring together. Follow us on Patreon

Our second episode features a deep discussion with musician Derek Webb, formerly of Caedmon's Call. They talk about the Christian rock scene, Derek's reluctance to embrace the term 'ex-christian' and the difference between a movement and an institution.  Derek's new solo album Targets drops on 2/21/20 Follow us on Patreon

The inaugural Loosen the Bible Belt podcast features Daniel DuGoff, founder of HomoCo.co   Dugoff’s brand of “versatile tops and power bottoms”  draws on the legacy of his family’s DC area gas stations, Homes Oil Company, that went by the nickname “HOMOCO“ starting in the 1930’s.    The trio discuss inclusivity in marketing/branding, DuGoff’s sustainable practice of turning recycled plastic bottles into swimwear and how to successfully rebrand a family business.  Wink.Wink.   More about Daniel:  www.homoco.co IG: daniel_dugoff   Follow us on Patreon