Today we're on a deep dive into the intersections of faith, gender, and radicalization. Emma and I explore Catholic masculinity, the rise of tradwives, and the troubling discourse around empathy as a supposed weakness—as well as chronicling our own journeys as young people growing up in fundamentalist Catholic spaces.

From the resurgence of Latin Mass to the ways traditionalist gender roles are shaping modern faith communities, we unpack the historical and cultural trends fueling these movements. We also discuss media literacy, the role of fundamentalism, and how these ideologies are making their way into mainstream culture—including through shows like Adolescence and books like The Sin of Empathy.

Listen on Substack, Spotify (with video), or Apple Podcasts.

Welcome to the very first episode of Whiplash with Maxwell Kuzma!

In this debut conversation, Emma and I (who have been working on a masculinity series on my Substack!) dive deep into what it means to deconstruct faith as queer Catholics. We explore the tension between tradition and identity, the messy and non-linear journey of deconstruction, and the ways in which both staying and leaving religious institutions are valid paths to personal liberation.

This episode unpacks complex themes like moral frameworks, purity culture, and the historical evolution of Catholic teachings. We also discuss the often-overlooked role of academic gatekeeping in theological discourse and how breaking down these barriers can empower more people to engage with their faith on their own terms (and we hope you will join us in this dialogue via the comments!).

Whether you’re in the midst of your own deconstruction, curious about the intersection of queerness and Catholicism, or just love a good deep-dive conversation, this episode is for you.

Listen now on Substack, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify (which includes the video from our conversation), and join us as we challenge, critique, and reconstruct what faith means in our lives. We’d love to hear your thoughts—drop us a comment when you finish listening!