Stephen Barry: Re-Finding Community, Faith, and Love

My guest today is Stephen Barry.

Stephen is a massage therapist living in the Nashville, Tennessee area.

Stephen is someone who I have wanted to have on the podcast for years, so it’s truly a delight to finally share this conversation here.

Stephen originally connected with me after I was on a podcast called Everyone’s Agnostic.  We had a number of things in common including our upbringing in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.  And stepping away from that faith community.  Stephen also recognized my last name and asked if I was related to Doug Tilstra.  My father-in-law, Doug Tilstra, had been one of his professors in university and, as you’ll hear in Stephen’s story, has remained a prominent friend and support to him.

In our conversation today, Stephen shares pieces of his story of leaving religion, coming out as gay, nearly giving up on life, and re-finding community, faith, and love.  Embedded in this is an amazing story of friendship and making life less difficult for each other.

Stephen, thank you so very much for this conversation.  I feel so grateful to be connected.  Thank you for sharing your stories with authenticity, vulnerability, love, and compassion.  You make the world a better place!

If you’d like to connect with Stephen, you’ll find links below.

https://www.facebook.com/barryorchestra

Make Life Less Difficult
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