Episode 4 is confusing. There is no context about how or why Susans mom is in America. All of a sudden she is based in California but it doesn’t make sense. Did Susans mom remarry an American and then was she adopted by him? This is supposed to be about adoption and in her telling of the story that part is TOTALLY ignored.

As someone who has been in the country for over 21 years, and newly naturalized citizen, this podcast “traumatized” me in a special way. Maybe, because I have never heard of this kind of mistreatment. This an important story, and I am glad I’ve been introduced to it, even though, these stories left me exhausted and heartbroken. I hope those adoptees will find Justice and peace one day!

Such a great podcast. The do a fair amount of biblical studies and demonstrate that there IS room for the lgbtq+ community within religion. Jesus said to love thy neighbor as thyself. He called this the second most important commandment. I feel very sad for the racist and homophobic people out there as it seems that the hatred they spread is an outward representation of the hatred they feel for themselves 💔

I loved this episode because I’m a follower of Jesus. We are finally changing. Dump the Christian ‘religion’ if you must. Not Jesus! There are communities that love and follow Christ AND welcome LGBTQ folks.

Great podcast binged the whole thing

I can’t believe it’s all done. Now I’ll watch the movie. Amazing podcast and it might even save someone’s life.

It left me wanting more, but that doesn’t mean it was lacking. I think it was a great podcast.

Although an interesting subject - I was left wishing there was more. Like Dolly Patton’s America - that is the extent that I felt this podcast could have been but failed to do.

Made me cry. Each story is so fascinating and told in a way that is complex. I loved it

This was a thoughtful and thorough investigation into the disturbing and discredited practice of conversion therapy that continues to scourge LGBTQ people to this day, especially of children by their parents. Pieces like this are essential to advancing the cause of human rights, and this podcast presents facts and eyewitness accounts in an accessible and well-organized manner. Hopefully more journalistic exploration like this will help us finally ban the torturous practice of conversion therapy.

I’m so glad that the terrible practice of reparative therapy is being exposed. So many have suffered, and it’s not right. It was interesting to find out the history behind it and the complicate legacy of those involved.

Please listen no matter what your creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion, and history.

As someone who was also exposed to John Schmid and the sick cult he ran, I would have appreciated him not being included in the victims of his abuse finally having a voice. When Kevin Spacey was outed for abusing young men, his career ended and no one wants to hear from him. Young men committed suicide in John’s care, and his response on episode 4 “I can’t be held responsible for the families who chose this therapy for their kids.” Sick. When John openly shares that his now husband had never kissed another man until him, it made my skin crawl. It sounded predatory yet right in line with how John has approached his entire life.

Very. Slow. Moving. Script. It’s an interesting story, but for many gay men like me I’ve heard it all before. This very slow moving podcast does little to keep me engaged. Perhaps if it had been one episode instead of four it would have moved better. Or maybe this is for straight people who have never heard of this kind of abuse.

The last episode ruined the whole series for me. Speaking as a lesbian, here’s my answer to the podcast’s big question: No, John Smid has not adequately accepted responsibility. In a full 51-minute episode, the closest thing to an apology we get is him basically saying, “boo hoo, I can’t handle the guilt so I tell myself it wasn’t my fault people killed themselves.” It was irresponsible reporting to not include any commentary from those of us in the LGBT community who expect more from Smid. Shame on the producers for suggesting that the hardship Smid suffered could ever justify the abuse he inflicted on others.

I grew up in a welcoming church and have been part of several churches with LGBT members and clergy. Christians like us are rarely represented in popular culture or the news so I appreciate that we are included in this story.

Love this! i want more. interviews with lots of LGBTQAI people!

I have a gay son who came out in his 20’s, although we knew much earlier. He was bullied in grade school, so we tried to reach out but he denied it. We would be ready when he was ready. He is the love of our lives and I can’t quit crying over the love loss for these men and women who’s parents couldn’t see beyond. God bless the individuals who came forward with their testimony.

As a young woman who grew up in Southeast Oklahoma and northeast Texas. I feel that shame and guilt and hatred that I have heard on this podcast. I grew up in church, hearing that “god hates gays” and other like terms. I pushed it so far back into my mind that I honestly thought the feelings I was having were normal. Once I went to college and started finding myself, I realized that I was not “normal”. I still felt like I was wrong, that everything I was feeling was wrong. It’s taken me so long to really accept myself. Yet still in the back of my mind there was little slivers of guilt. After listening to the podcast I truly feel whole and happy with my sexuality. All of the fears and conflicts I had are gone. I KNOW God doesn’t hate me, and made exactly the way he wants me. If all of these people can come to terms with it, so can I. I’m now proud of my orientation, and have all of these brave and amazing men and women to thank, for making a world where I can KNOW; in know uncertain terms that “ITS OKAY TO BE GAY!

I don’t care if you are gay, straight or questioning. Listen to this podcast. It’s educational and heart felt. I have cried, laughed and learned so much. Thank you for doing all this. This podcast is needed.

What more can I say?

Thought provoking and full of love.

These stories are amazing. Great to learn about this and I really enjoyed each episode. The momma bears made me cry, laugh and restored a bit of faith in humanity. Got to love moms being moms to anyone who needs one. Thank you for these podcasts.

Thank you

This show has taught me so much- as a future therapist, perhaps former Christian, and as a human. Thank you. Would LOVE it if you folks did more episodes but also I should probably watch the movie.

Listening to this guy talk was incredibly frustrating. He shows zero remorse, takes no accountability, and has nothing but performative nonsense to say for his really messed up actions. We all struggle with shame; not all of us methodically destroy people’s lives for 25 years to make ourselves feel bigger and better. I don’t care about his backstory, and I’m not moved by his lame explanations. Not sure that he deserves any kind of platform at all.

Phenomenal podcast. I'm not unfamiliar with co version therapy, having grown up in the church and having worked in Christian higher ed. But the detailed narrative here provided a lot of new information. As expected, the complexity of the storytelling is the podcast series' great strength. There are no simple answers here. Loved it!

I am a Mama Dragon- we are a Facebook group of moms with LGBTQIA children who love and support each other while we love and support our kids. This series has been so fascinating to listen to. Amazing interviews with the people in the early days who were trying to find a new path for those who were not accepted or supported as they were. I am so grateful for all of these people who have made the world a safe and healthy for our children. Thank you for this podcast!!

I am a new therapist and was completely moved by this podcast. I was not aware that this was still happening. It has opened my eyes. I am also a Christian and do not hold those beliefs that many help in this series. This really got me thinking and I love the moms bears. I am going to share this with everyone!

I am looking forward to seeing Boy Erased (I live outside the US and it's not always easy to find a movie at a theater) but the first episode is basically a retelling of the movie / book! There are even many clips from the movie. Otherwise, it's an important topic to know about - for everyone. It's produced very well. I will listen to the rest later.

Loved this series so much. Binge listened to it in one day. Best podcast series since S-town. Must listen if you’re interested in lgbtq history and issues.

REALLY dislike the solid 2 minutes of ads in the beginning of each episode. I feel this series has good intent, but may stray from actually telling the stories of those who have gone through conversion therapy and give more of a voice to that of the oppressor. I did like the Mama Bears episode, and admire what they do now, but why spend so much time on how they had to come to terms with their childrens' sexuality?? Boo hoo for them! Much more traumatic for their LGBT children, and the podcast should have given the voice to them.

Amazing podcast and the mama bear episode really hit me. If anything I’m maybe bisexual but I just appreciate hearing a literal translation of a bible verse that is so widely open to interpretation. Thank you

This podcast is beautiful: particularly episode 2 about the Mama Bears. It’s beautiful and a welcome spring of love and hope.

Please note that this series focuses on religious and shame based conversion therapy. There are other voluntary therapies out there for men (often married men) who wish to reduce gay attraction. Most often childhood trauma is found that when resolved reduces the attraction. My “Hidden Truth Show” podcast interviews experts on the subject in a deep dive I did into transgender. Important listen to complement this podcast. :)

I really wanted to love this podcast, but it fell so short. First episode was engrossing and I wanted to delve deeper, however, this team took no real hard stance when talking to John Smid. Was there no questioning his material wealth built upon the suicides of these gay men? While I loved the Mama Bears, I really wanted to listen to the story of the first mom’s son. It just felt fractured and directionless.

I ate this podcast so good. So helpful. Thank you!

As with most things Jad Abumrad is involved with, this is a brilliantly produced podcast. The subject matter is extremely difficult in this polarizing political environment, but bringing in the specific human stories behind the headlines makes all the difference. Thank you for shedding light on this tragic story.

This is a really captivating podcast. I thank Jad Aburmad for picking an almost taboo topic and presenting gay lives as worthy of respect, dignity, and inclusion. Much too often we hear the Religious Right (aka the tyranny of the majority) mock, isolate, call to criminalize and void, stigmatize LGBT and marriage equality. Actually, this podcast is much more interesting, I think, than the latest episdoes of Radio Lab and More Perfect, his other podcasts.

Absolutely phenomenal podcast. The in-depth perspective this 4-part series delivers gives the listener an honest and frank understanding of conversion therapy in America. The last episode is by far the most surprising and well worth the time to listen to.

Great series but this guy needs to shut up and go away. He has done tremendous harm over the years and I don’t want to hear a thing he has to say. He gets WAY to much air time in this series.

Powerful to summarize into one word. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in San Diego. This is still a very relevant issue everywhere and in every family. This podcast brought me to tears many times. Hearing the stories of people who have lost their families whether they are LGBTQ or family that support their LGBTQ loved ones; it is heartbreaking. I felt this podcast was very well developed and hearing from all areas of this controversial issue is what made this so well researched and powerful. I think the biggest take away is being willing and open to hear other ideas, theologies and beliefs- that is what changes society, mindsets and ultimately saves lives. Listen to this podcast, please! LOVE IS LOVE!

John Smid killed young boys, and women. Jad, on behalf of the LGBT community, forgives him and gives him the platform upon which to blame the suicides and the trauma on the victims themselves. John Smid is a monster and destroyed lives. Jad is an apologist, and makes petty excuses. This is a new low, Jad. You’ve long been a moral relativist, priding yourself in your ability to look at all perspectives—even those of monstrous killers—but here you really go for the gold. Those young boys’ and girls’ blood is on his hands. And you shook his hand and let him duck and dodge responsibility. Sad, Jad. That’s really very sad.

And very nice that the whole series was rolled out in time for Thanksgiving Weekend to foster family dialogues. Thanks again Jad!

So much of my trauma as a gay man—having grown up in the church, working for a church, then working for a national ministry for 12 years—yet not feeling accepted or welcomed, is being healed by listening to this podcast. The tears that run down my face today, are not familiar like the tears of shame and guilt I’ve cried, but tears of feeling heard, understood, and loved. Thank you for this gift.

What’s being told here is mind blowing if it isn’t something that you have personal experience with and needs to be heard by everyone.

Every radio program Jad touches turns to gold: “radiolab” is my spouse, “more perfect” is my lover, and “unerased” is my gay best friend. Always compelling, always written with integrity.

I listen to a lot of podcasts, and do a lot of reading of queer people experiences and just. I am in awe by this podcast. I find new things to feel great and awful about in every episode, but the Mama Bears episode made me cry listening. I have a relatively accepting family but just to hear that so many women are willing to truly change their lives and expand their knowledge of their God to allow more love in their lives makes me feel hope for our community and our families in the future.

Perhaps it is because this topic has deep implications for me and close friends, but this is some of the most heartening reporting I’ve heard in a long time. Un Erased does credit to podcasting as an art form.

Me after listening to this episode: 😭😭😭