Second Sunday

As Season 2 comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect on our journey and share insights from our guests. For the first time our producer, Anna DeShawn, join us in conversation and interviews Esther & Darren. This episode is a celebration of the power of storytelling and the importance of finding your own path to faith. After tuning in, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect with us on social media @SecondSundayPod and tell us what you think through our listener survey. You can take the survey here, https://bit.ly/SecondSundaySurvey24 & it will help inform future episodes of the pod.

Mark Miller is a graduate of Juilliard and Yale University with an expertise in choral conducting, sacred music, and voice. His hymns and anthems are sung by communities of faith throughout the world, and his album, Imagine the People of God, is available on iTunes. He believes that music, social justice, and the beloved community are inextricably tied. His story is about finding God and himself through music. After tuning in, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect with us on social media @SecondSundayPod and tell us what you think through our listener survey. You can take the survey here, https://bit.ly/SecondSundaySurvey24 & it will help inform future episodes of the pod.

In this episode of Second Sunday, hosts Darren and Esther share an inspiring conversation with Dexter Davis. Dexter, a motivational speaker, advocate, and artist, opens up about his unique journey of self-discovery and faith. From childhood struggles and exploring gender identity to profound spiritual experiences in Judaism and Christianity, Dexter's story is a testament to the power of resilience and love. Join us as we navigate Dexter's path to finding his true self and feeling a deep connection with God.After tuning in, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect with us on social media @SecondSundayPod and tell us what you think through our listener survey. You can take the survey here, https://bit.ly/SecondSundaySurvey24 & it will help inform future episodes of the pod.

Award-winning journalist and self-proclaimed "church queen" Tre'vell Anderson joins Esther & Darren in another table shaking episode. They share a journey of faith while navigating the Black church, conversion therapy, and ultimately reclaiming their truth – all fueled by the undeniable power of Black trans divinity. With humor and insight, only the way Tre'vell can serve it, they remind us that Black LGBTQ folks are chosen too.After tuning in, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect with us on social media @SecondSundayPod and tell us what you think through our listener survey. You can take the survey here, https://bit.ly/SecondSundaySurvey24 & it will help inform future episodes of the pod.

Meet D. Danyelle Thomas, a Black faith and spirituality speaker, author, activist and founder of Unfit Christian. Danyelle shares her journey of choosing wholeness over holiness while navigating the intersections of faith, race, gender, and sexuality. This discussion explores the power of questioning and deconstructing rigid religious beliefs to find a more liberating and inclusive faith. Join us as we uncover stories of Black queer experiences and the transformative journey to a more holistic understanding of our own spirituality. Follow Danyelle on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Twitter via @UnfitChristian. After tuning in, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect with us on social media @SecondSundayPod and tell us what you think through our listener survey. You can take the survey here, https://bit.ly/SecondSundaySurvey24 & it will help inform future episodes of the pod.

In this episode, storyteller, artist, and religious scholar, Donte Hilliard joins Esther and Darren to discuss how he recognizes truth and authenticity by staying connected with his body.  Donte was raised in a combination of Black Pentecostal and Baptist traditions. Donte discusses how his path to finding authenticity through his identity is deeply connected to the evolution of his spiritual views. He holds master's degrees in Black Studies and Religious Studies and is currently a Doctor of Ministry student at Meadville Lombard Seminary.After tuning in, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect with us on social media @SecondSundayPod and tell us what you think through our listener survey. You can take the survey here, https://bit.ly/SecondSundaySurvey24 & it will help inform future episodes of the pod.

Angelica Ross, the actress and advocate, joins Esther and Darren to explore the unexpected path that led her from the Church of God in Christ to practicing Buddhism for the last thirteen years. Raised in a religious household, Angelica felt a calling to explore spirituality outside the confines of tradition. She opens up about the relationship with her mother and the profound forgiveness and freedom she discovered through her Buddhist practice. After tuning in, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect with us on social media @SecondSundayPod and tell us what you think through our listener survey. You can take the survey here, https://bit.ly/SecondSundaySurvey24 & it will help inform future episodes of the pod.

We're back! In this episode, we're honored to feature Bishop Yvette Flunder, a trailblazer and community builder. From her spiritual lineage to her journey of self-discovery and love, Bishop Flunder's story resonates with authenticity and resilience. Through her words, she challenges norms, advocates for inclusivity, and reminds us of the fundamental duty to 'do no harm.' Tune in for an enriching exploration of faith, love, and liberation. After tuning in, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect with us on social media @SecondSundayPod and tell us what you think through our listener survey. You can take the survey here, https://bit.ly/SecondSundaySurvey24 & it will help inform future episodes of the pod.

We're back! This season we're mostly talking to people exploring their faith outside of the traditional church as many of us know it. After tuning in, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect with us on social media @SecondSundayPod and tell us what you think through our listener survey. You can take the survey here, https://bit.ly/SecondSundaySurvey24 & it will help inform future episodes of the pod.

Now, let's get into it: Many of us know the Black Church as place that has been both a source of deep love and profound pain. And figuring out how to live in that tension is rough. So for this episode, we're revisiting our interview with pastor, activist, and professor, Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart. I was so encouraged by her resilience and hope that I figured you might wanna hear more from her too. So let's listen now, And don't forget, Season two of Second Sunday begins April 24th! After tuning in, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect with us on social media @SecondSundayPod and tell us what you think through our listener survey. You can take the survey here, https://bit.ly/SecondSundaySurvey24 & it will help inform future episodes of the pod.

We've got a special treat for you…Bonus content! After tuning in, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect with us on social media @SecondSundayPod and tell us what you think through our listener survey. You can take the survey here, https://bit.ly/SecondSundaySurvey24 & it will help inform future episodes of the pod. We are gearing up for our much-anticipated Season 2 launch on April 24th so we're sharing a powerful moment with Rev. Pamela Lightsey. This one's called "Out and Proud in a Dangerous Time," and it's all about the incredible bond between Pamela and her brother. Get this – they weren't just hitting the disco scenes; they were defining what it meant to live out loud during a time when it wasn't just bold, it was revolutionary. From impromptu dance-offs in gay clubs to amusing flirtations, their story is nothing short of inspiring. This episode isn't just a peek into the past; it's a celebration of courage, community, and the unbreakable bonds that define us. Don't miss this lead-up to our exciting new season!

Rev. Naomi Leapheart is a pastor, activist, professor and director of faith based and interfaith affairs for the City of Philadelphia. In this episode Darren and Esther use Rev. Naomi's words of wisdom to explore the big question: "Do we need everyone?" Where do we draw the lines between trying to get through to people, maintaining relationships, and moving forward? The saints ain't ready for this but we're going to do it anyway. It's Second Sunday.

Rev. Don Abram, the founder of Pride in the Pews, is a queer public theologian and social innovator operating at the intersection of race, religion, and social change. His work and writings have been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Religion News Service, and the Christian Science Monitor. In this episode we get to hear how church shaped and formed all of who he is including his sexuality. He asks us, what if our embrace of queerness is actually the place where we find our liberation? The saints ain't ready for this but we're going to do it anyway. It's Second Sunday.

Dr. Pamela Lightsey is a theologian, academic, activist and author who's work has inspired so many. In this episode, we get an in depth look into who she is as a person and how she grew to become the fierce advocate we all know today. Her story will make you laugh, cry, and clutch your pearls. The saints ain't ready for this but we're going to do it anyway. It's Second Sunday.

Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey is a woman of trans experience and Texas native with a passion for ministry and inclusion. She comes from a family of active church leaders and her story brings us through all the intersections of faith, love, and courage.

A native of Colorado Springs, Rev. Benjamin Reynolds, has spent nearly four decades in active ministry and believes that life is a series of calls and that we may have more than one calling over the course of our lives. He feels the purposes of his calling are yet ahead of him and during this episode you'll hear about one call received and how it all fell apart when they learned he was gay.

Meet Darren, not only a co-host to this podcast, but a Black gay man of faith who has been through it all and still believes in the transformative power of the divine. Hear his story of finding God, surviving conversion therapy and still standing firm that the divine loves all of who he is in the world.

Second Sunday is a podcast about Black queer people finding, keeping, and sometimes losing faith in the Black church. Join hosts Darren and Esther as they take turns exploring the journey of each guest as they navigate religion, spirituality, culture, and identity. You'll love this show if you have questions about religion, grew up around the Black church, and want to hear perspectives and a tiny bit of advice from people who have survived challenging moments and complicated feelings. Most of all, you'll love this show if you enjoy listening to hosts who crack jokes first and ask questions later. Tune in to Second Sunday on The Qube or wherever you get your podcasts.