The Forbidden Apple: LGBTQ+ SPIRITUALITY
In this season of The Forbidden Apple Podcast, host Melissa Weisz, who was born and raised a Chasidic Jew, is joined by the brilliant Zahra Ladak, a queer Muslim born and raised in the US with deep East African/Indian roots. Together, they explore the intersections of queerness, religion, and culture from their unique perspectives.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 33 minutes
- Episodes
- 104
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2024
Reconciling Faith and Desire: with Dr Sara Glass
Navigating Family and Tradition with Melissa Weisz & Zahra Ladak
In this episode of The Forbidden Apple Podcast, hosts Melissa Weisz and Zahra Ladak discuss navigating family and tradition as queer folks raised in religious homes. Though they come from different f…
Welcome our new Co-host Zahra Ladak
Melissa Weisz, born and raised a Chasidic Jew welcomes new cohost Zahra Ladak, a Muslim born and raised in the US with deep East African/ Indian roots. Throughout this season, Melissa and Zahra will…
Becoming an LGBT Global faith leader - Bishop Joseph Tolton (Part II)
In Part II of this Episode, Bishop Tolton talks about his mission of creating Interconnected Justice (ICJ)- a global racial justice movement in which the continent of Africa and its diaspora build an…
Becoming an LGBT Global faith leader - Bishop Joseph Tolton (Part I)
Bishop Joseph Tolton is a legendary global faith leader and the Founder and President of Interconnected Justice - a global racial justice movement in which the continent of Africa and its diaspora bu…
A Queer Feminist Activist - Dr. Stella Nyanzi
The inimitable Dr. Stella Nyanzi is a Ugandan queer feminist activist, human rights advocate, poet, medical anthropologist, and scholar of sexuality, family planning, and public health.
At the time o…
Raising the voice of sexual violence survivors with Mary Muthui TW Sexual Violence
Mary Muthui is a human rights activist from Kenya. She shares the stigma and violence she faced being noticeably queer, and what gave her the strength and courage to fight for herself and others.
Mar…
A Media Pioneer from Angola - Coréon Dú
Coréon Dú is an award-winning Angolan recording artist, creative director, designer, screenwriter and producer.
Coréon shares how he started creating much-needed entertainment for folks his own age …
It Feels Good To Be Forbidden- Val Kalende
Val Kalende is an activist and founding member of Uganda's LGBTQ MOVEMENT. Val helped launch Freedom and Roam Uganda-FARUG. She shares how taking the risk to be visible has paid off in advancing LGBT…
Asylum, a manifesto for LGBTQ refugees with Edafe Okporo
Edafe Okporo is a global gay rights activist, the founder of Refuge America, and one of the most visible voices on the issue of displacement.
Edafe grew up in Nigeria where religion played an impor…
African Rainbow Family with Aderonke Apata
I ran away from God - Luzie from Kenya (TW: suicide, violence, homophobia)
Luzie talks about her struggle growing up as a Lesbian in Kenya. She opens up about the spiritual violence she suffered and being made to believe that it's demonic to be attracted to the same sex.
Lu…
Professor of Religious Studies in Zimbabwe - Ezra Chitando
Ezra Chitando is a Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Zimbabwe and co-author of “Reimagining Christianity and Sexual Diversity in Africa”.
Ezra serves as Theology Consultant on HIV …
The story of a Refugee from Cameroon - Cedric Tchante (TW: Suicide,Violence, Homophobia)
Cedric Tchante is an activist, marketing coordinator and blogger from Cameroon, currently living in San Francisco.
Cedric talks about growing up in Cameroon where being gay is illegal. He shares h…
An LGBTQ artivist from Botswana - Katlego Kai Kolanyane-Kesupile
Katlego Kai Kolanyane-Kesupile is a performance artist, musician, writer and LGBT artivist from Botswana. She is known for being the first public figure from Botswana to openly identify as trans.
Kat…
Life-saving work for LGBTQ folks in Uganda - "Biggie" from FARUG
FAR…
Nigerian Gay Rights Activist - Bisi Alimi
The Forbidden Apple around the world series
In this new season we amplify LGBTQ voices from African countries.
We will hear from people …
Summer Break - with hosts Melissa Weisz & Pelayo Alvarez
On this final episode of The Nuanced Series, your hosts look back on the lessons learned throughout this season. From listening to others perspectives to giving ourselves permission to think differen…
Preacher's Kid - with Grace Semler Baldridge
Singer/songwriter Grace Semler Baldridge shares with us their journey from being a preacher's kid to charting on Christian music charts as an openly queer artist. Grace shares how they deconstructed …