Connection From Here: Finding Community in a Changing World
Feeling disconnected? In today's world, building a genuine community can feel harder than ever, especially for those of us who have stepped away from religion. Join mother-daughter duo Ashley and Michele Perry, co-founders of HopeBase, as they explore the evolving landscape of connection and community in the Connection from Here podcast.
Ashley, a former pastor turned secular chaplain and Gen Z thinker Michele, explore secular spirituality, answer the big questions about belonging, interview fascinating guests, and share real stories of how people are (and aren't) finding community in these changing times.
New episode out every other Wednesday!
Connection From Here: Finding Community in a Changing World
Finding Real Community: Healing and Authenticity Beyond Religious Trauma with Reverend Robert Arnáu
Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of religious trauma and self-harm.
One of the most important pillars of a good community is being able to show up as your whole self, being welcomed and accepted as such. But for many of us, it takes time to find this type of community for ourselves, and we go through a lot of heartache in the process. Today’s guest, Reverend Robert Arnáu, is no stranger to this journey and joins us to share his story of surviving conversion therapy and religious trauma to finding true belonging in an affirming spiritual community. Episode 8 of Connection from Here is about healing and authenticity beyond religious trauma.
Rev. Robert Daniel Arnáu is a queer, neurodivergent spiritual director, coach, and minister based in Massachusetts. Raised in the Bronx by his fierce Puerto Rican abuela and Nuyorican mother, he is a survivor of conversion therapy and now offers trauma-informed spiritual direction and coaching for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC/Latiné individuals healing from religious trauma. Ordained through the Metropolitan Community Churches, he currently serves as a minister with The Faith Community in Atlanta, GA. His spiritual path is expansive and deeply rooted in liberation, blending non-Christian-nationalist Christianity with secular Buddhism, reiki, tarot, and ecumenical mysticism. At the core of his work is a belief in the sacredness of bodies, stories, and chosen family. Rob is the author of Sabor Zen, a pocket prayer book inspired by Buddhist precepts and infused with cultural soul—a gentle yet grounded invitation into mindful and embodied living. His approach bridges the mystical and the practical, offering clarity, compassion, and a fierce commitment to justice and healing in every space he enters.
Topics covered:
- The warmth– and the wounds– of being raised in a conservative church as a queer person.
- Rob recounts his experience surviving conversion therapy, illustrating the deep psychological and spiritual scars it can leave.
- The search for community beyond traditional spaces and how Rob found acceptance and healing within an LGBTQ+ affirming church.
- How our wounds can become sources of wisdom and how reclaiming our narrative can become an inspiration to others on similar journeys.
Your need for connection is real, natural, and important. As Rob’s story powerfully reveals, the path to wholeness is often found in safe, affirming community, where every part of you is welcome.
Watch the episode on YouTube here!
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Learn more about HopeBase at https://www.gethopebase.com/ and our community at https://hopebasecommunity.mn.co/
Connect with Robert:
Sabor Zen, a pocket prayer book inspired by Buddhist precepts and
flavored with cultural soul
Sacred & Salty Newsletter (Substack)
Spiritual Directors International Profile
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