GAY with GOD!

 
Tad Hopp was born and raised in Texas. He grew up in the Presbyterian Church (USA). When he was 12, he knew he was gay but felt ashamed of it, not proud. He used to lie awake at night and beg God to make him straight. Since God couldn’t or wouldn’t, he went through an atheist phase during his teenage years. His church family was important to him though so he continued to show up at church every Sunday. 
He was the poster child for how to be a model Christian youth as he was very active in his church even attending a Presbyterian related college. He graduated with his Bachelors in English from Austin College in Sherman, TX and moved back home to save money while he figured out his next steps in life. 
A couple years later, he applied to do a Presbyterian mission year. He had always wanted to live overseas and this sounded like the perfect opportunity to do that. Unfortunately, the chance to move overseas was denied to him because of his sexuality. He did opt to do the same program in Chicago and that experience changed his life. It led him to follow God’s call to go to seminary, an environment where he really blossomed. 
Tad got his Masters in Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary and managed to secure a job as a hospital chaplain in San Francisco shortly after that. That experience was a rough one for him and he realized that chaplaincy was simply not the right thing for him. So after that ended, he got a job working at a Presbyterian Church as their communications director. This felt like a natural fit for his gifts and his abilities. However, the church environment was not healthy and he soon realized that it was not a good place for him.  Tad opted to take a break from church to heal from the trauma of working there. 
This ended up being the best decision he could have made. He found himself with more free time, more energy and more enjoyment. He eventually opted to leave the ordination process and Christianity altogether. He ended up joining a local gay softball league which is how he wound up meeting his husband. They were married there in 2024.
At the end of 2025, he opted to relocate to Amsterdam to finally fulfill his dream of living abroad. His husband is still back in San Francisco but will be making the move over at the end of 2026. Tad runs a coaching business in which he helps gay men heal from religious abuse, trauma and shame. Because he had to do the work of healing all by himself and realized that no one should have to do that alone. So now he accompanies others on their own healing journeys. He combines his training in pastoral care and counseling, chaplaincy, his certification in life coaching and also brings his own lived experience with church abuse and trauma to his work. In his spare time, he enjoys running, hiking, books, movies, board games and has recently gotten into Dungeons and Dragons and Tarot! 
 
Connect with Tadd
Instagram: magicaltadrigal
Website: https://coachtad.my.canva.site/atadbettercoaching

Dr. Lucas Hall, DSW, LCSW, is a psychotherapist, speaker, and lifelongperson of faith whose work explores what it means to be fully humanwithout separating the sacred from the ordinary. As a gay man raisedin the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and now serving as anordained ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Lucas speaksopenly about queer identity, faith, mental health, and the difficultwork of holding two truths at once. He is the founder of The GuestHouse Psychotherapy, an LGBTQ+-affirming practice serving adults inFlorida, Alabama, and Kentucky. His approach is grounded in radicalhospitality and the belief that none of us should have to divideourselves to belong.
Connect with Dr. Lucas Hall, DSW, LCSW
The Guest House Psychotherapyhttps://guesthousepsychotherapy.comFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/GuesthousepsychotherapyInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/guesthousepsychotherapyDr. Lucas Hallhttps://drlucashall.com

Midge Noble is an online resiliency coach, podcaster, author, and speaker. She has published two children’s books, SHEBA, Home Is Where Your Heart Is, and ICE CUBE AWARD, Learning To Be Cool Under Pressure. Her memoir, Gay with God, Reclaiming My Faith, Honoring My Story has just been released! Her podcast, GAY with GOD! can be found wherever you stream your podcasts.
Midge specializes in helping her LGBTQIA+ community in their coming out and faith journeys. Her main focus is to stop gay suicides by educating people wounded by the church that they can be in relationship with the God of their understanding and that God does and has always loved us, just as we are created to be. To that end, Midge is very involved in her parish, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Midge and her wife, along with their fur babies, enjoy spending time at their mountain cabin, hiking, and being with their friends.
On today's episode, I talk about how we may find ourselves challenging the lessons we were taught or the path we chose.  We may feel a disconnect in our life, our relationship, our job, and/or our faith.  What do we do?  How do we move forward? I hope you get from this episode that you and whatever is feeling disconnected  can stand in the questions and continue to be whole.
Connect with Midge
Complimentary Session w/ Midge
Be MY next GUEST on GAY with GOD!
Email 
Linkedin
Facebook
Website
Instagram @midge.noble
BlueSky @Midge4.bsky.social
TikTok @MidgeNoble418
Threads
BUY a SIGNED copy of the Gay with God memoir!
 

Midge Noble is an online resiliency coach, podcaster, author, and speaker. She has published two children’s books, SHEBA, Home Is Where Your Heart Is, and ICE CUBE AWARD, Learning To Be Cool Under Pressure. Her memoir, Gay with God, Reclaiming My Faith, Honoring My Story has just been released! Her podcast, GAY with GOD! can be found wherever you stream your podcasts.
Midge specializes in helping her LGBTQIA+ community in their coming out and faith journeys. Her main focus is to stop gay suicides by educating people wounded by the church that they can be in relationship with the God of their understanding and that God does and has always loved us, just as we are created to be. To that end, Midge is very involved in her parish, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Midge and her wife, along with their fur babies, enjoy spending time at their mountain cabin, hiking, and being with their friends.
On today's episode I talk about joy and finding it even when things are tough.  Our journey in life is an inward and outward experience.  The only thing we can count on is change.  How we react to it is up to us.
Connect with Midge
Complimentary Session w/ Midge
Be MY next GUEST on GAY with GOD!
Email 
Linkedin
Facebook
Website
Instagram @midge.noble
BlueSky @Midge4.bsky.social
TikTok @MidgeNoble418
Threads
BUY a SIGNED copy of the Gay with God memoir!
 

 
Midge Noble is an online resiliency coach, podcaster, author, and speaker. She has published two children’s books, SHEBA, Home Is Where Your Heart Is, and ICE CUBE AWARD, Learning To Be Cool Under Pressure. Her memoir, Gay with God, Reclaiming My Faith, Honoring My Story has just been released! Her podcast, GAY with GOD! can be found wherever you stream your podcasts.
Midge specializes in helping her LGBTQIA+ community in their coming out and faith journeys. Her main focus is to stop gay suicides by educating people wounded by the church that they can be in relationship with the God of their understanding and that God does and has always loved us, just as we are created to be. To that end, Midge is very involved in her parish, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Midge and her wife, along with their fur babies, enjoy spending time at their mountain cabin, hiking, and being with their friends.
On today's episode I talk about feeling blah and ways to honor that and move forward.  We can't always be 100% on fire and none of us are, so we are allowed to be present, not feel our best, but look forward to a brighter future.
 
Connect with Midge
Complimentary Session w/ Midge
Be MY next GUEST on GAY with GOD!
Email 
Linkedin
Facebook
Website
Instagram @midge.noble
BlueSky @Midge4.bsky.social
TikTok @MidgeNoble418
Threads
BUY a SIGNED copy of the Gay with God memoir!

Midge Noble is an online resiliency coach, podcaster, author, and speaker. She has published two children’s books, SHEBA, Home Is Where Your Heart Is, and ICE CUBE AWARD, Learning To Be Cool Under Pressure. Her memoir, Gay with God, Reclaiming My Faith, Honoring My Story has just been released! Her podcast, GAY with GOD! can be found wherever you stream your podcasts.
Midge specializes in helping her LGBTQIA+ community in their coming out and faith journeys. Her main focus is to stop gay suicides by educating people wounded by the church that they can be in relationship with the God of their understanding and that God does and has always loved us, just as we are created to be. To that end, Midge is very involved in her parish, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Midge and her wife, along with their fur babies, enjoy spending time at their mountain cabin, hiking, and being with their friends.
On today's episode I talk about a girl named, May, who left this world too soon, my own growing desire to make sure I am being more visible and providing a safe portal for my LGBTQIA+ community, and shining a light on our journey to walk the walk of activism and safety.
 
Mentioned In This Episode    LGBTQIA+ US TRAVEL MAP
 
Connect with Midge
Complimentary Session w/ Midge
Be MY next GUEST on GAY with GOD!
Email 
Linkedin
Facebook
Website
Instagram @midge.noble
BlueSky @Midge4.bsky.social
TikTok @MidgeNoble418
Threads
BUY a SIGNED copy of the Gay with God memoir!

Midge Noble is an online resiliency coach, podcaster, author, and speaker. She has published two children’s books, SHEBA, Home Is Where Your Heart Is, and ICE CUBE AWARD, Learning To Be Cool Under Pressure. Her memoir, Gay with God, Reclaiming My Faith, Honoring My Story has just been released! Her podcast, GAY with GOD! can be found wherever you stream your podcasts.
Midge specializes in helping her LGBTQIA+ community in their coming out and faith journeys. Her main focus is to stop gay suicides by educating people wounded by the church that they can be in relationship with the God of their understanding and that God does and has always loved us, just as we are created to be. To that end, Midge is very involved in her parish, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Midge and her wife, along with their fur babies, enjoy spending time at their mountain cabin, hiking, and being with their friends.
On today's episode I focus on my journey and the question that we all may be asking,  "What's Next?" What is next in our country, our lives, our faith, our relationships?  Where will we go from here? How will we get there?
Connect with Midge
Complimentary Session w/ Midge
Be MY next GUEST on GAY with GOD!
Email 
Linkedin
Facebook
Website
Instagram @midge.noble
BlueSky @Midge4.bsky.social
TikTok @MidgeNoble418
Threads
BUY a SIGNED copy of the Gay with God memoir!

Midge Noble is an online resiliency coach, podcaster, author, and speaker. She has published two children’s books, SHEBA, Home Is Where Your Heart Is, and ICE CUBE AWARD, Learning To Be Cool Under Pressure. Her memoir, Gay with God, Reclaiming My Faith, Honoring My Story has just been released! Her podcast, GAY with GOD! can be found wherever you stream your podcasts.
Midge specializes in helping her LGBTQIA+ community in their coming out and faith journeys. Her main focus is to stop gay suicides by educating people wounded by the church that they can be in relationship with the God of their understanding and that God does and has always loved us, just as we are created to be. To that end, Midge is very involved in her parish, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Midge and her wife, along with their fur babies, enjoy spending time at their mountain cabin, hiking, and being with their friends.
On today's episode we look at being loving in this time and place where everything is polarized. I focus on a quote by Thomas Merton,  who said in his book Thoughts in Solitude, "But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you." What does this mean for us and how can we walk and talk this today?
Mentioned in this Episode:   The Unintentional Heretic Podcast w/ Rev. Greg Farrand
Connect with Midge
Complimentary Session w/ Midge
Be MY next GUEST on GAY with GOD!
Email 
Linkedin
Facebook
Website
Instagram @midge.noble
BlueSky @Midge4.bsky.social
TikTok @MidgeNoble418
Threads
BUY a SIGNED copy of the Gay with God memoir!

Jay V. Jackson is a Senior Licensed Reiki Master Teacher, mentor, widowed gay man, former ICU and hospice nurse, and founder of Illumine Reiki Academy. His work centers on Reiki as a gentle path of healing, belonging, spiritual reclamation, and returning to the sacred self.
Through Reiki teaching and mentorship, Jay helps sensitive spiritual seekers and practitioners develop confidence, intuition, and grounded healing presence. His message speaks to those navigating grief, identity, spiritual disconnection, life transition, and the desire to serve from a place of authenticity rather than performance.
Today we go deeper with Jay regarding his training in Reiki and how this spiritual journey changed his life and continues to change the lives of people he serves.  Jay gives us lots of insights into how we can benefit from Reiki even through remote sessions with Jay.
Previous Episode: Meet Jay V. Jackson!
Connect with Jay V. Jackson
Jay@illuminewellness.com
www.illumineReikiAcademy.com
https://www.facebook.com/illumineReikiAcademy

 
Jay V. Jackson is a Senior Licensed Reiki Master Teacher, mentor, widowed gay man, former ICU and hospice nurse, and founder of Illumine Reiki Academy. His work centers on Reiki as a gentle path of healing, belonging, spiritual reclamation, and returning to the sacred self.
Through Reiki teaching and mentorship, Jay helps sensitive spiritual seekers and practitioners develop confidence, intuition, and grounded healing presence. His message speaks to those navigating grief, identity, spiritual disconnection, life transition, and the desire to serve from a place of authenticity rather than performance.
 
Connect with Jay V. Jackson
Jay@illuminewellness.com
www.illumineReikiAcademy.com
https://www.facebook.com/illumineReikiAcademy