Welcome back to a very special bonus episode of IFQT! Earlier this season, we heard from queer youth in Utah about what it’s like to navigate faith and queer identity within the LDS Mormon community. To continue that conversation, we’re sharing an episode from our friend Persis Abraham’s podcast Room For Us, featuring therapist and theologian Ann Russo. Ann incorporates a Master’s in Theology into her social work practice to help people heal from religious trauma. In this episode, she talks about her own experiences with faith, growing up in a queer household, attending an ex-gay conference, and AMR, the evidence-based approach she’s developed to overcome religious trauma.

This interview with Ann was originally published on July 17, 2025 by our friend Persis Abraham on her podcast, Room For Us. With permission from Persis, we are excited to share this impactful episode with our listeners. Hosted by Hannie Saba.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS:

Please note that some resources may contain triggering content and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of, or the definitions used by, The Future Perfect Project.

⏱️ TIME STAMPS:

0:48 Host, Hannie welcome

3:19 Persis introduces Ann Russo

4:31 Growing up in queer 80s household

15:59 Common queer mental health challenges

18:30 Did Ann grow up religious?

20:00 Attending queer conversion conference

35:00 Trauma informed care

41:16 Training professionals on queer inclusion

46:48 Religious institutional harm

51:16 Taking care of yourself

54:30 Advice to Ann’s younger self

56:28 Message to queer folks feeling isolated

58:00 Outro, credits & gratitude

📝 RESOURCES/SHOW NOTES:

Visit our site for full show notes on local queer info, history, and additional resources mentioned in this episode → https://thefutureperfectproject.org/podcast

We want to hear from you! Send a voice note to our online voice message box →IFQT! Speakpipe - http://speakpipe.com/ifqt

💬 TRANSCRIPT: https://share.descript.com/view/zuwFGyGZBxy

🚨 CRISIS RESOURCES:

If you or a young person you know between the ages of 13-24 is currently in crisis, check out thetrevorproject.org for LGBTQIA+ specific support through text and chat, or call 1-866-488-7386

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s part two of our visit to Albert Einstein Academy (AEA), Northeast Ohio’s first LGBTQ+ affirming high school. In this bonus episode of I’m Feeling Queer Today!, we return to Ohio on our queer roadtrip around the country. You’ll hear a roundtable discussion with the trans students at AEA, a brand new segment called “Representation: Putting The Me in Media,” and some original writing. Plus, an intergenerational conversation between one of our episode hosts and his uncle and grandmother, discussing how they each learned about queerness. We suggest listening to Part 1 of this episode first.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS:

Please note that some resources may contain triggering content and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of, or the definitions used by, The Future Perfect Project.

⏱️ TIME STAMPS:

0:41 Intro

0:48 Hosts introduce episode

2:15 Trans students: What’s it like attending LGBTQ+ affirming school

5:12 Representation: Putting the ME in Media

12:40 Caiden & Grandma & Uncle: Intergenerational queer discoveries

17:33 Animal Love

20:25 “To My Friend” - poem by Oliver

21:42 “Ohren” - poem by Bonnie

22:43 Outro, credits & gratitude

📝 RESOURCES/SHOW NOTES:

Visit our site for full show notes on local queer info, history, and additional resources mentioned in this episode → https://thefutureperfectproject.org/podcast

We want to hear from you! Send a voice note to our online voice message box →IFQT! Speakpipe - http://speakpipe.com/ifqt

💬 TRANSCRIPT: https://share.descript.com/view/hetJaxo2xxV

🚨 CRISIS RESOURCES:

If you or a young person you know between the ages of 13-24 is currently in crisis, check out thetrevorproject.org for LGBTQIA+ specific support through text and chat, or call 1-866-488-7386

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode of IFQT!, we’re back in Ohio—this time just outside Cleveland—at Albert Einstein Academy (AEA), Northeast Ohio’s first LGBTQ+ affirming public high school. Even in the face of hostile legislation, AEA’s community stands strong, making space to process new house bills together in real time. Hear from co-founder and superintendent Kristen Thomas on how the school began, join a roundtable on gender-affirming care, and listen to students share original poetry and messages of hope for queer youth to come. This is Part 1 of 2 from our visit to Albert Einstein Academy.

📝 RESOURCES/SHOW NOTES:

Visit our site for full show notes on local queer info, history, and additional resources mentioned in this episode → https://thefutureperfectproject.org/podcast

We want to hear from you! Send a voice note to our online voice message box →IFQT! Speakpipe - http://speakpipe.com/ifqt

⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS:

Please note that some resources may contain triggering content and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of, or the definitions used by, The Future Perfect Project.

⏱️ TIME STAMPS:

0:41 Host intro about AEA

1:38 HB68 update & reactions

3:33 ⚠️ AEA co-founder Kristen Thomas interview w/ Trudy Poux (⚠️ CW: suicide)

12:30 “The Moth” original poem by Leo

13:24 Roundtable on “gender-affirming care”

24:52 Message for next generation of young queers

27:46 Outro, credits & gratitude

💬 TRANSCRIPT: https://share.descript.com/view/PAlY49MvQKG

🚨 CRISIS RESOURCES:

If you or a young person you know between the ages of 13-24 is currently in crisis, check out thetrevorproject.org for LGBTQIA+ specific support through text and chat, or call 1-866-488-7386

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.