{"podcast":{"title":"You Can Be Both","slug":"you-can-be-both-7576307","podcast_index_feed_id":7576307,"rss_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/10b47a908/podcast/rss","website_url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/you-can-be-both","image_url":"https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/44742130/44742130-1762547217244-a90f5ddea203c.jpg","author":"Lauren Lanzaretta","episode_count":36,"summary":"You Can Be Both is hosted by singer/songwriter Lauren Lanzaretta, who shares honest conversations about being both gay and Christian—two identities often seen as incompatible. The podcast creates space for LGBTQ+ people of faith to find healing, community, and a deeper connection with Christ while fully embracing who they are. As a first step to your healing journey, I recommend the “LGBTQ+ Healing & Resource Guide” - go to www.youcanbeboth.com for this and other resources. Join the You Can Be Both Community App https://youcanbeboth.mn.co/plans/1984569?bundle_token=a02f1c1a95e905aa187210545","last_synced_at":"2026-07-05T14:19:26.748663+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/you-can-be-both-7576307"},"episode":{"title":"God WANTS Me To Be Gay -- A Former Pastor's Coming Out Story","slug":"god-wants-me-to-be-gay-a-former-pastor-s-coming-out-story","published_at":"2026-05-24T15:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/you-can-be-both-7576307/god-wants-me-to-be-gay-a-former-pastor-s-coming-out-story","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/you-can-be-both-7576307","url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/you-can-be-both/episodes/God-WANTS-Me-To-Be-Gay----A-Former-Pastors-Coming-Out-Story-e3jprhm","audio_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/10b47a908/podcast/play/120433654/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-4-23%2F424747116-44100-2-59fbbbea01012.mp3","summary":"Mike Maeshiro spent 5 years as an instructor at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry — teaching, preaching, and living what he thought was his calling. But there was one problem: he was gay. From age 10, Mike knew he was different. He tried conversion therapy. He dated a woman to \"fix\" himself. He climbed the evangelical ladder at one of the most influential charismatic churches in the world — all while suppressing who he really was. Then in 2020, everything changed. A Taylor Swift documentary, a passage from Acts, and a spiritual awakening in the woods led Mike to a truth he'd been running from for 22 years: God wanted him to be gay. In this episode, Mike shares his journey from being kicked out of ministry school for confiding in a friend about his attraction to men, to becoming a paid staff member and instructor at the same institution, to finally coming out publicly in 2022 and walking away from everything he'd built. What we cover: ​Growing up evangelical and realizing he was gay at age 10 ​Being kicked out of Bethel ministry school after being outed by a friend ​Getting hired back and climbing the ministry ladder while suppressing his identity ​The spiritual experiences (including Taylor Swift's Miss Americana) that led to his coming out ​How he reconciled his faith with his sexuality through rigorous biblical study ​The cost of staying closeted vs. the freedom of coming out ​His work now helping LGBTQ people heal from religious trauma through Numa Mike is the founder of Numa, an organization supporting people healing from religious toxicity, especially within the LGBTQ community. Through coaching, speaking, and social media, he helps people live authentically and reclaim spirituality in affirming ways. Connect with Mike: Instagram/TikTok: @mikemaeshiroOrganiza…","meta_description":"Mike Maeshiro spent 5 years as an instructor at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry — teaching, preaching, and living what he thought was his calling.…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3734,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/you-can-be-both-7576307/episodes/god-wants-me-to-be-gay-a-former-pastor-s-coming-out-story/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/you-can-be-both-7576307/god-wants-me-to-be-gay-a-former-pastor-s-coming-out-story.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}