
Hosted by Joanna Whaley · EN
Tune into the Joanna Whaley Podcast, a captivating and deeply personal exploration documenting the profound, real-time evolution of its host, Joanna Whaley. For years, Joanna served as a dedicated Evangelical Pastor and later came out as a transgender woman. This podcast chronicles the challenging and ultimately liberating process of her deconstruction of faith, leading her to step away from the pulpit and embrace a new, powerful calling: becoming a passionate and vocal LGBTQ Rights advocate.
This series offers listeners a candid, week-by-week look at what it truly means to navigate a complete philosophical and professional upheaval. Joanna invites you to listen in as she tackles difficult conversations, grapples with the loss of her former identity, confronts the biases she once held, and finds her new voice on the front lines of social justice. Experience the full scope of this transformative journey, the doubts, the revelations, the heartache, and the ultimate triumph of aligning her life with a message of unconditional love and equity for all. This is more than a podcast; it’s a living diary of radical change and courageous advocacy.

Send us Fan MailAfter nearly 3 years, the Joanna Whaley Podcast is coming to a close. Joanna will still be making podcasts, but more project-limited series material. Follow her on all social media channels for more information. Support the show

Send us Fan MailToday on the show, we discuss how important it is to lead when it all hits the fan. Stepping up to lead when things are fun and cute is needed, but can you step up when it's all going wrong? DONATE TO THE CAMPAIGN: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/joannawhaleySupport the show

Send us Fan MailToday on the show, Joanna discusses the ways in which we operate when something is bigger than one person. We all have a mode of operation in large settings or in movements. Today, Joanna discusses her evolution of self in the whole picture. DONATE TO THE CAMPAIGN HERE: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/joannawhaleySupport the show

Send us Fan MailToday, Joanna shares some major news. She is running for the Michigan House of Representatives!! Joanna shares the journey from LGBTQ+ rights advocacy to running for office. In this difficult time in America and in Michigan, she is running to get the government to lead and not hate. GIVE TO THE CAMPAIGN: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/joannawhaleySupport the show

Send us Fan MailToday on the show, Joanna discussed lessons learned in the last year. As she celebrates her birthday, she shares ideas of loving more and how difficult lessons have shaped who she is today. SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.joannawhaley.com/donateJOIN JOANNA'S TEAM: https://www.joannawhaley.com/teamGET SUPPORT: https://www.joannawhaley.com/supportSupport the show

Send us Fan MailEPISODE ORIGINALLY AIRED: March 2nd, 2025The concept of "freedom" has become a battleground, often weaponized by voices of bigotry and a narrow, Christian heteronormative worldview. Today, we delve into this complex issue, unpacking how this appropriation impacts queer individuals of faith. Join us as we explore navigating this challenging landscape, finding strength in our intersectional identities, and reclaiming the true meaning of liberation. SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.joannawhaley.com/donateMERCH FROM THE HOST: https://www.joannawhaley.com/storeGET SUPPORT: https://www.patreon.com/joannawhaleyREFERENCES:AP News. (2024, March 2). Trump administration reverses Obama-era transgender protections in new order. Associated Press. Bible, New Revised Standard Version. (1989). Malachi 3:3. In The Holy Bible (p. 1195). National Council of Churches of Christ. Dobson, J. (n.d.). Purity. Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. https://www.drjamesdobson.org/broadcasts/tag/purity. Harris, J. (1997). I kissed dating goodbye: A new approach to relationships and romance. Multnomah Books. Mark Allen Powell (2014). Introducing the New Testament: A historical, literary, and theological introduction. Baker Academic. Pg 548-549. Salamon, M. (2024, September 1). Doomscrolling dangers. Harvard Health Blog. Harvard Health Publishing. HRC. (2023). Meta’s new policies: How they endanger LGBTQ+ communities and our tips for staying safe online. Human Rights Campaign. Folkenflik, D. (2013, August 12). Murdoch's Fox News sued by ex-workers over alleged bias against women, blacks, and gays. HuffPost. Strain, J. (2022, November). Strain of media overload. Monitor on Psychology, 43(10). McCammon, S., & Campbell, N. (2020, October 12). We asked Americans how they feel about the U.S. flag. It got interesting. NPR. Support the show

Send us Fan MailToday on the show, we discuss the epidemic of school shootings in America. The ability of lawmakers to do nothing on this topic is mind-numbingly ridiculous, and we need to demand our leaders do more, and do it now. Joanna shares her thoughts on how to go after this problem. SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.joannawhaley.com/donateJOIN JOANNA'S TEAM: https://www.joannawhaley.com/teamGET SUPPORT: https://www.joannawhaley.com/supportSupport the show

Send us Fan MailToday we discuss the tensions of church being a business, when Jesus turned over tables in the temple. Join me for a talk about how to navigate this tension in a world where costs are rising and our churches ask for more. Also we have a a snip from one our favorite shows "Queer Theology Podcast".SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2291916/supportMERCH FROM THE HOST: https://www.joannawhaley.com/storeREFERENCES:Joanna Whaley, Exegesis on ACTS 2:42-47 From a Queer Theological Frame (Debuque, IA: Wartburg Theological Seminary, 2024). Mark Allan Powell, Introducing The New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic Publishing, 2018) pg 30,31,32. Linda Tatro Herzer, The Bible and the Transgender Experience (Cleveland, OH: The Pilgrim Press, 2016) pg 75. John Bowker, World Religions: The Great Faiths Explored and Explained (New York, NY: DK Publishing, 2021) pg 266. Rev Elizabeth M. Edman, Queer Virtue (Boston, MA: Beacon Press Books, 2016) pg 140,145.Eric Froner, Give Me Liberty: An American History (New York, NY: WW. Norton and Company, 2017) pg 95. Music & Production property of Whaley Media. All inquiries can be forwarded to admin@joannawhaley.com.Support the show

Send us Fan MailToday on the show a special guest, Emme Zanotti who is the Senior Director of Movement Building & Political Affairs at Equality Michigan, joins the show to talk all things LGBTQ rights in the state of Michigan. She brings wisdom and care to the community and is making Michigan a safe place in the face of christian nationalist ideas becoming common place. Connect with Equality Michigan: https://equalitymi.org/SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.joannawhaley.com/donateJOIN JOANNA'S TEAM: https://www.joannawhaley.com/teamGET SUPPORT: https://www.joannawhaley.com/supportSupport the show

Send us Fan MailToday on the show Joanna discusses the rising costs of going back to school and how the State of Michigan can't pass a school budget. Plus other topics form around town. SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.joannawhaley.com/donateJOIN JOANNA'S TEAM: https://www.joannawhaley.com/teamGET SUPPORT: https://www.joannawhaley.com/supportSupport the show