Whiplash with Maxwell Kuzma

Max

Whiplash with Maxwell Kuzma brings queer voices to the table to explore Catholicism through the lens of queer liberation theology. Growing up in conservative, fundamentalist Catholic environments, Max’s journey has led him to a deeper, more authentic understanding of Jesus—rooted in radical love, not rigid doctrine. The show examines the tension between religious dogma and lived faith, dismantling harmful narratives and imagining a Church and world that fully honors the dignity of LGBTQ+ people and all marginalized communities. Tune in for candid reflections, theological insights, and conversa

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S1 · E68
September 21 · 1 hr 21 min
Telling LGBTQ Stories with Prism United
For more than five years, I’ve had the privilege of working with Corey Harvard, Executive Director of Prism United, to tell the stories of LGBTQ+ people in Southwest Alabama. In this episode of Whiplash, Corey and I talk about how that collaboration began, why storytelling became such an important part of Prism’s work, and what it means to document the lives of LGBTQ+ people in a community that doesn’t always get the attention—or the resources—it deserves. Prism United began as a grassroots effort supporting LGBTQ+ youth and has grown into a community-rooted organization offering support, connection, mental health resources, education, and advocacy. We also talk about what happens when you give people the opportunity to tell their own stories: the visibility that comes from seeing yourself represented, the relationships that develop behind the camera, and the ways documentary storytelling can become a form of community-building in its own right. This conversation is personal for me because these projects have allowed me to do something I care deeply about as a filmmaker—to make space for people to be seen and heard in their own words. Learn more about Prism United and their work serving LGBTQ+ youth and their loved ones in Southwest Alabama at prismunited.org.
S1 · E67
August 5 · 1 hr 26 min
Queer Virtue: A Theological Lens for Christianity
In this episode of Whiplash, Max sits down with the Reverend Liz Edman, Episcopal priest and author of Queer Virtue, to explore what queer experience can teach Christianity. Rather than treating queerness as simply an identity to be debated or affirmed, Edman argues that it offers a theological lens—one that challenges false binaries, cultivates virtues like courage and truth-telling, and invites Christians into a richer understanding of vocation, community, and faith. Together, Max and Liz discuss the spiritual significance of coming out, the role of human suffering in theological reflection, the dangers of fundamentalism, and why Christianity has much to learn from those who have long lived at its margins. Whether you're interested in queer theology, Christian ethics, or simply looking for a deeper conversation about faith and human flourishing, this episode offers a thoughtful and compelling invitation to see Christianity through a new lens. To stay up to date on new podcast episodes, essays, and other projects, subscribe with your email at https://MaxwellKuzma.substack.com. Also, if you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to check out Maxwell's recent webinar with Tyler Bieber on his biography of Fr. Tom Oddo, now available on the LGBTQ Religious Archive Network YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=Jreo7n4DFUUPjR9u&v=TL9dPT4Y85I&feature=youtu.be
S1 · E66
July 13 · 55 min
Living Outside the Norm
In this episode, I reflect on the recent New York Times essay by Matthew Vines, "I'm Gay, Not Queer. It Matters," and use it as a starting point for a broader conversation about what queer means to me. As a transgender Catholic, I've come to understand queerness not simply as a label for sexual orientation or gender identity, but as a way of living beyond society's assumptions about what is "normal" or "default." We explore why these conversations matter in a time of renewed backlash against LGBTQ people, how my faith has shaped my understanding of identity and belonging, and why I believe the Gospel has always made room for lives that challenge conventional expectations. For more podcast episodes and essays, subscribe at: https://maxwellkuzma.substack.com/
S1 · E65
July 6 · 1 hr 9 min
Schism & Culture War: Understanding the SSPX Split
The Vatican's declaration that the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) is in schism immediately ignited debate across Catholic social media. Why was the SSPX declared schismatic? Why not other controversial Catholics? In this episode, we move beyond the memes and culture-war talking points to explain what schism actually means in Catholic theology, the history of the SSPX, and why this moment has become such a flashpoint in online Catholic discourse. Together, we explore how questions of authority, history, and politics shape the stories Catholics tell about who's "faithful," who's "rebellious," and what the Church is actually responding to. If you'd like to dive deeper into the SSPX and the separatist Catholic community in St. Marys, Kansas, check out Max and Emma’s long-form essay, "Out of Time: Catholic Separatism in St. Marys, Kansas," originally published as part of the “High Control Catholicism” series: https://maxwellkuzma.substack.com/p/out-of-time-catholic-separatism-in The article provides additional historical background on the SSPX, its culture, and the broader phenomenon of Catholic separatism that complements this week's conversation.
S1 · E64
June 29 · 1 hr 32 min
Why We Need to Learn Black Catholic History with Alessandra Harris
For many Catholics, the story of racism and justice is often taught in fragments — as individual moments of prejudice rather than as part of a larger arc of history that continues to shape people’s lives today. Issues like policing, incarceration, housing, employment, and the criminalization of drug use are deeply connected to histories of racial inequality that have shaped the experiences of Black communities, including Black Catholics seeking to live out their faith in a society and Church that have not always fully recognized their dignity. In this conversation, I’m joined by Alessandra Harris to explore the importance of learning Black Catholic history as an essential part of understanding the Church itself. We talk about what it has meant for Black Catholics to navigate racism in society while also confronting the ways the Catholic Church has often been slow to respond to these realities, and why listening to these stories is necessary for anyone seeking a fuller understanding of the Catholic tradition. Learn more about Alessandra’s work: https://alessandraharris.net/
S1 · E63
June 22 · 57 min
Growing Up White and Catholic: What I Didn’t Learn
What is missing from my understanding of the Black Catholic experience? In this episode, I reflect on what I’ve been learning about the history of Catholic involvement in slavery, the development of Black Catholic thought, and the ways Black Catholics have challenged the Church to more fully live into its teachings on justice and human dignity. This conversation draws from the work of Black Catholic journalists, including reporting from the Black Catholic Messenger, as well as historians and theologians such as Alessandra Harris, Fr. Bryan Massingale, and James H. Cone. This episode is not meant to speak for Black Catholics or provide a definitive account of Black Catholic history. Instead, it is a reflection on my own learning process as a white Catholic: the questions I’ve been asking, the gaps I’ve discovered in my own formation, and the history I’m continuing to learn. My next episode features a Black Catholic guest, Alessandra Harris, as we continue this conversation through her work and scholarship.
S1 · E62
June 15 · 1 hr 21 min
Fr. Mike Schmitz Encourages Scrupulosity in Gay Catholics
What kind of God is being presented to LGBTQ Catholics? In this episode, Max and Emma respond to Fr. Mike Schmitz and Kim Zember's recent EWTN video "Can You Be Gay and Catholic?" and argue that beneath the conversation lies a troubling image of God—one that encourages self-doubt, scrupulosity, and fear rather than dignity, relationship, and freedom. From purity culture and evangelical testimony narratives to same-sex weddings and Catholic teaching, they explore how theology shapes people's lives and ask a simple question: if the Gospel is good news, why does this message feel so bad?
S1 · E61
June 8 · 1 hr
A New Thing: Pride, Transness, and Liberation
This Pride Month, Max explores what Pride means through the lens of transgender identity, liberation, and faith. Beginning with the history of Stonewall and the central role that transgender and gender-nonconforming people played in the Gay Liberation movement, this episode examines why Pride remains both a celebration and a protest. Drawing on scripture, queer history, and contemporary reflections on trans life, Max argues that trans people are not merely part of the story of Pride—they help reveal a deeper truth about human freedom, transformation, and possibility. In a world that often fears change, transness offers a powerful reminder that, as the prophet Isaiah writes, God is always "doing a new thing." Sign up for Max's newsletter: https://maxwellkuzma.substack.com/
S1 · E60
June 1 · 45 min
If You Didn’t Read the Pope’s Encyclical, Here’s What You Missed
In this episode, I break down Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, offering both a clear overview of its main themes and a deeper reflection on what it means theologically and politically. The document engages artificial intelligence, modern warfare, labor, and global inequality through the lens of Catholic Social Doctrine, including striking moments like its critique of “just war” theory and its acknowledgment of the Church’s historical role in slavery. But beyond summary, I also explore what it feels like to read a text that is at once significant and limited—especially from the perspective of liberation theology and my own experience as a transgender Catholic formed at the margins of the Church. This episode asks what it means when institutional theology begins to name realities that marginalized communities have long been living and thinking through, and why that tension between excitement and frustration might actually be the most important part. Check out more of my work at: https://maxwellkuzma.substack.com/
S1 · E59
May 25 · 58 min
Queer Theology 101 with Dr Ish Ruiz
Today I’m joined by Dr. Ish Ruiz for a conversation about queer theology—what it means to “queer” theology itself, and how that moves us beyond questions of simple inclusion into deeper questions about scripture, doctrine, tradition, and power. We explore what shifts when theology is approached from the margins rather than assumed centers, and how queer theology opens up more liberatory and expansive ways of understanding God and the Church. Dr. Ish Ruiz is an assistant professor of Latinx and Queer Decolonial Theology at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. His work sits at the intersections of queer theology, Catholicism, Latinx theology, sexual ethics, liberation, and ecclesiology, shaped by both academic scholarship and years of ministry alongside LGBTQ Catholics. In this conversation, we also discuss his theological vision for the Church, his two recent books—LGBTQ+ Educators in Catholic Schools: Embracing Inclusivity, Synodality, and Justice and Cornerstones: Sacred Stories of LGBTQ+ Employees in Catholic Institutions—and the pastoral importance of remembering the inherent dignity and belovedness of LGBTQ people. To learn more about Dr. Ish Ruiz and his work, visit his website here: https://www.ishruiz.com/
S1 · E58
May 18 · 53 min
The Search for Aliveness with Leah Raidt
Leah Raidt joins me for a deeply personal conversation about Catholicism, embodiment, gender, spirituality, and the search for aliveness within religious practice. Leah serves to uplift and advance LGBTQ+ artists and narratives toward collective liberation through meditation, facilitation, filmmaking, poetry, performance, producing, and presence. Together, we explore what happens when spirituality moves beyond performance and certainty and becomes something rooted in mystery, discernment, and relationship. Throughout the episode, we reflect on growing up in Catholic culture, the pressure to suppress intuition in favor of rigid expectations, and the tension between inherited religion and lived experience. Leah shares how Catholicism became a kind of friction that sharpened their discernment, while I speak about navigating faith as a transgender Catholic trying to reconcile what I was taught spiritually with what I knew in my body. This conversation explores paradox, embodiment, and the possibility of a spirituality that reconnects people to themselves rather than teaching them to disappear. Links to find out more about Leah Raidt: https://linktr.ee/lraidt
S1 · E57
May 10 · 57 min
26 Years of Trans Catholic Ministry - Sister Luisa Derouen
In this episode of Whiplash, Max speaks with Sister Luisa Derouen about her more than 26 years accompanying transgender Catholics through questions of faith, conscience, identity, and belonging. Long before transgender issues became part of mainstream Catholic discourse, Luisa was quietly offering spiritual support to trans people wrestling with isolation, shame, fear, and the feeling that they had to choose between authenticity and God. Their conversation explores accompaniment, mercy, Vatican II spirituality, and what it means to affirm the dignity of transgender people within the life of the Church. Listeners are also encouraged to read the powerful Outreach profile “No Body Now But Yours” as well as “Trans ally, Catholic nun: Sister Luisa Derouen’s 26-Year mission of quiet resistance” by Leah Raidt from Queer Kentucky, both of which offer a deeper look into Luisa’s decades of ministry and advocacy. While much work remains to be done for transgender Catholics, Luisa’s presence has meant that countless people did not have to navigate that struggle alone. This episode reflects on the spiritual importance of being seen, accompanied, and reminded that there is nothing inherently incompatible between being transgender and being loved by God. https://outreach.faith/2024/08/no-body-now-but-yours/https://queerkentucky.com/trans-ally-catholic-nun-sister-luisa-derouens-26-year-mission-of-quiet-resistance/
May 4 · 1 hr 6 min
Interview with a Nonbinary Trans Jew
This week on Whiplash, Max sits down with J.E. Reich—a Jewish, queer, and nonbinary journalist, editor, and writer—for a conversation that stretches beyond a single tradition and into deeper questions of gender, theology, and lived experience. Together, they explore what it means to encounter another religious framework not as a threat, but as an invitation: to rethink assumptions, to expand imagination, and to take seriously the histories of communities who have been engaging questions of gender and embodiment for far longer than many contemporary Christian spaces. The episode also reflects on J.E.’s powerful writing about the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and the enduring strength of Jewish communal life in the face of violence, alongside a broader discussion of how Jewish texts—from the Talmud to later rabbinic interpretation—approach gender with nuance and complexity. From the recognition of multiple gender categories to interpretive traditions that center intention and authenticity, this conversation offers a compelling look at what becomes possible when we learn across traditions. Resources mentioned: J.E. Reich, “Inside the Tree of Life Congregation, the Prayer for the Dead Brings Hope” (Vanity Fair) - https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/10/inside-the-tree-of-life-congregation-the-prayer-for-the-dead-brings-hope Myles H. Aronowitz, “The Seven Genders in the Talmud” - https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-eight-genders-in-the-talmud/ Joy Ladin, “What Does the Torah Really Say about Cross-Dressing?” - https://www.jtsa.edu/torah/what-does-the-torah-really-say-about-cross-dressing/
April 27 · 1 hr 6 min
Max & Emma on Pope Leo’s Comments, Plus 3 LGBTQ Figures You Should Know
Emma and I start this episode by catching up and talking through Pope Leo’s recent comments on sexual morality—what was said, what it reflects, and how it continues to shape the way LGBTQ people are understood in the life of the Church. Rather than just reacting, we sit with what these conversations do: how they draw boundaries, reinforce certain narratives, and leave others out. From there, Emma brings in her work on archiving LGBTQ histories, offering a perspective that widens the frame. Through three historical figures, we explore what it means to see ourselves as part of a much longer story—one that challenges the idea that LGBTQ people are new, marginal, or outside the tradition. It’s a conversation about memory, erasure, and how history can change the way we understand the present.
S1 · E54
April 20 · 1 hr 6 min
A Trans Catholic Life, 70 Years in the Making
At nearly 70 years old, Christine Zuba’s story offers a powerful and rarely heard witness. She transitioned just 11 years ago after decades of lived experience, becoming an active voice in transgender Catholic advocacy. A lifelong Catholic, she serves as a Eucharistic Minister at Saints Peter & Paul Church in Turnersville, New Jersey, helps lead her parish’s LGBTQ+ ministry Together In Prayer, and participates in similar ministries across the region. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Fortunate Families, supporting LGBTQ+ Catholics and their loved ones. Together, Max and Christine reflect on what it means to come into one’s truth later in life, the spiritual and emotional journey of transition, and the unexpected joy that can unfold on the other side. They also compare notes on their experiences meeting Pope Francis. This conversation highlights the importance of trans elders in communities of faith—stories that offer not only resilience, but a vision of what is possible.
S1 · E53
April 13 · 59 min
FAQ: My Trans Catholic Story
Longtime listeners of Whiplash and readers of my work will likely recognize much of what I share in this episode. I’ve written and spoken about pieces of my story over the years, across essays, podcasts, and conversations. But I wanted to create a single episode that brings those threads together in one place, especially for those who may be newer to my work or hearing my story for the first time. Today’s episode is exactly that: a more consolidated, reflective look at my journey of transgender experience. I move through some of the most common questions I receive and challenge all of us to think more deeply about the body, faith, and what it means to come into alignment with yourself in a world that doesn’t always give you the language to do so.
S1 · E52
April 6 · 50 min
Liberation is for Everyone... And it's Not Suffocating
Bishop Barron is in the news again, and as usual, it’s complicated. In this episode of Whiplash, I respond to his recent Word on Fire video "The Suffocating Warmth of Marxist Collectivism," examining the claims he makes about collective responsibility, freedom, and economic ideology. I dig into how Catholic social teaching intersects with contemporary economic realities, from industrial-era labor struggles to today’s precarious employment and widening wealth gaps. Along the way, we explore how liberation—far from being threatening—is actually about expanding human dignity and creating conditions where more people can thrive. This episode also takes a broader look at Barron’s public rhetoric, including his appearances in partisan media and commentary on Western civilization. I reflect on the tension between theology and politics, the role of liturgical language in framing social authority, and the ways moral imagination can help us see beyond ideological extremes. Ultimately, this episode asks: what does true liberation look like when it centers human flourishing instead of rigid ideologies?
S1 · E51
March 23 · 56 min
"Twink death," Homosociality & Masculine Status
Masculinity is often shaped less by attraction to women than by the recognition men seek from other men. Using the public reaction to Timothée Chalamet and the online discourse around “twink death” as a starting point, this episode explores the concept of homosociality and the powerful role status plays in shaping male identity. Drawing on sociology, pop culture, and media analysis, we examine how masculinity is often performed through signals meant to earn legitimacy within male peer groups, influencing everything from aesthetics to career choices to public personas. The episode also challenges common myths about testosterone, highlighting research suggesting that testosterone does not simply produce aggression but can also reinforce bonding, cooperation, and relational commitment depending on the surrounding cultural incentives. Through the lens of transgender experience and reflections on gender essentialism in Catholic culture, this conversation asks what healthier masculinity could look like if status were more strongly associated with care, integrity, emotional maturity, and responsibility rather than dominance or performance. Resources & References • Zhang, Jenny – Timothée Chalamet’s twink death • Weber, Max – theories of class, status, and power • Ridgeway, Cecilia – Status: Why Is It Everywhere? Why Does It Matter? • Imara, Mariam – Homosociality – Or: How I found a name for the thing I want to smash and it’s not „the patriarchy“ • The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences – The Significance of Status: What It Is and How It Shapes Inequality • Barnard College – Break This Down: The Social Myth of Testosterone • Jordan-Young, Rebecca & Karkazis, Katrina – Testosterone: An Unauthorized Biography • Petric, Kalcounis-Rueppell, & Marler (2022) – testosterone and pair bonding study in monogamous mice • McBee, Thomas Page – Man Alive and Amateur • Kearns, Shannon – No One Taught Me to Be a Man • Green, Jamison – Becoming a Visible Man • Commentary by Derek Guy on masculinity aesthetics in media • Ezra Klein in conversation with Anand Giridharadas, who discusses the status issues at play with the Epstein Files
S1 · E50
March 16 · 55 min
Bishops claim Gender Affirmation threatens Religious Liberty
Across the United States, a growing wave of laws is targeting transgender people—restricting access to medical care, limiting legal recognition, and threatening basic rights in everyday life. At the same time, some Catholic leaders are increasingly portraying transgender identities and legal recognition of trans people as threats to religious liberty. When a principle meant to safeguard conscience is used to justify policies that harm vulnerable communities, it raises urgent moral and theological questions about what religious freedom is actually meant to protect. This episode examines the U.S. bishops’ 2026 Annual Report on Religious Liberty and the broader political and legal landscape surrounding it. Looking at recent court decisions, federal and state policies, and the Church’s own language about “gender ideology,” I explore how religious liberty is being reframed in ways that directly impact transgender people. I also ask a deeper question for Catholics today: whether this use of religious freedom reflects the spirit of Catholic teaching—or distorts it in ways that undermine human dignity. Additional reading: https://maxwellkuzma.substack.com/p/two-errors-catholics-make-about-gender
S1 · E49
March 9 · 1 hr 10 min
Trans Theology & Coming Home to the Body ft. Maddie Marlett
What happens when Catholic theology begins not with abstract debates about transgender people, but with the lived experience of transgender embodiment itself? In this conversation, Max Kuzma sits down with his friend Maddie Marlett to explore what it means to encounter Christ through transition, embodiment, and the lifelong process of becoming. Rather than treating trans lives as distant questions to be analyzed, this discussion centers the spiritual and theological insights that emerge from actually living as a trans Catholic. Maddie shares her journey growing up Catholic, how her understanding of God evolved through transition, and the role that supportive community—especially through DignityUSA—played in sustaining her faith. Together, Max and Maddie reflect on themes at the heart of Christian theology—incarnation, sacramentality, death and rebirth—and consider how transgender lives might illuminate, rather than threaten, the church’s understanding of the body and the mystery of God’s presence within it.

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