Find Your Freaks

About Find Your Freaks

Ever felt too weird, too loud, too soft, too real — or just too complicated to belong? This podcast is your proof that you’re not alone. Find Your Freaks features raw, unfiltered conversations with people who are building belonging in unexpected places — and doing it by showing up exactly as they are. Hosted by community strategist Tonya Kubo, this show digs into the messy, beautiful truth of what it takes to find your people. New episodes on Thursdays starting June 2025. Come for the stories. Stay for the humanity. And if something hits home? Tell your weirdest friend and visit Ever felt too weird, too loud, too soft, too real — or just too complicated to belong? This podcast is your proof that you’re not alone. Find Your Freaks features raw, unfiltered conversations with people who are building belonging in unexpected places — and doing it by showing up exactly as they are. Hosted by community strategist Tonya Kubo, this show digs into the messy, beautiful truth of what it takes to find your people. New episodes on Thursdays starting June 2025. Come for the stories. Stay for the humanity. And if something hits home? Tell your weirdest friend and visit https://findyourfreaks.com/

Publisher

Tonya Kubo

Category

business · education · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 May 2025

Latest episode

17 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

34 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   17 Sept 2026

   033 - The People Who Hold Everyone Else Together

   Why boundaries don’t weaken communities. They strengthen them. Every community has someone who seems to hold everything together. They solve the problems. Remember what everyone else forgets. Step in when something falls through the cracks. And because they are capable, everyone keeps letting them. But what happens when one person becomes responsible for everyone else? In this solo episode of Find Your Freaks, Tonya Kubo reflects on her conversation with clergy coach Margaret Marcuson and why the lessons from sustainable ministry apply far beyond pastors. From teachers and healthcare workers to managers, parents, nonprofit leaders, caregivers, and the friend everyone calls in a crisis, Tonya explores what happens when being “the strong one” becomes an expectation. She shares why burnout cannot always be solved with another productivity system, how over-functioning can unintentionally teach the people around us to under-function, and why doing everything ourselves may actually prevent someone else from discovering what they are capable of doing. If you are always the person people depend on, or if you rely on someone who seems capable of handling everything, this episode asks an important question: What are you carrying that was never yours to carry in the first place? You’ll hear how: Margaret Marcuson’s lessons about sustainable ministry apply far beyond pastors High-burnout professions often require people to carry struggles they cannot safely discuss publicly Burnout is not always a productivity problem Boundaries ask a different question than productivity: What is actually yours to carry? Our willingness to carry everything can teach other people that they do not have to carry anything Over-functioning can create under-functioning throughout an entire system Stepping back can give someone else the opportunity to discover what they are capable of doing Healthy communities share responsibility instead of depending on one person to make all the sacrifices The invisible labor behind belonging needs to be sustainable too Episode Highlights [01:30] Why Margaret Marcuson’s lessons about sustainable ministry apply far beyond pastors [05:30] The struggles people in high-burnout professions cannot always talk about publicly [09:00] Why burnout may be a boundaries problem instead of a productivity problem [12:00] Boundaries, shared responsibility, and what happens when one person stops carrying everything [14:00] How doing everything can unintentionally teach other people not to step up [18:00] Why over-functioning creates under-functioning in the systems around us [21:00] Giving the strong people in our lives permission to be human and asking what was never ours to carry Resources & Mentions Sustainable Ministry: How to Lead and When to Nap (https://a.co/d/04ttgKny) by Margaret Marcuson Episode 032 (https://www.tonyakubo.com/032-why-pastors-stay-with-margaret-marcuson): Why Pastors Stay (and Why It Matters That They Do) with Margaret Marcuson Meet Your Host Tonya Kubo is a community strategist, writer, and rebel with a cause: helping people find the place where they truly belong. She’s spent nearly two decades building online spaces that feel more like chosen family than comment sections, and she’s not afraid to call out the fluff in favor of real connection. As the founder of Find Your Freaks, Tonya brings together unconventional thinkers, builders, and bridge-makers who believe that “normal” was never the point. When she’s not hosting the show, she’s raising two daughters, leading client communities, and making meaning out of the mess. Support the Show If Find Your Freaks matters to you, help us keep it ad-free by buying us a coffee (or two!) (https://tonya.link/coffee). Every dollar goes to production so more weirdos can find their people. You can purchase Find Your Freaks merchandise online (https://www.bonfire.com/store/abilities--attitudes/) through Abilities and Attitudes. Let’s Stay Freaky Facebook Group (https://tonya.link/group) LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/in/tonyakubo) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tonyakubo/) Podcast Hub (https://findyourfreaks.com/) What’s Next Next episode, Tonya talks with Danielle Tidwell, owner of The Tipsy Hellcat LLC, about what happens when the community you need doesn’t exist yet. Danielle is building the Hellcat Bridal Collective to connect alternative couples and vendors who are ready to stop searching for a seat at someone else’s table and create their own.

2. 

   3 Sept 2026

   032 – Why Pastors Stay (and Why It Matters That They Do) with Margaret Marcuson

   Why sustainable ministry starts with knowing what is yours to carry Pastors are called to care for people. But that does not mean they are called to carry everything. In this episode of Find Your Freaks, Tonya Kubo sits down with clergy coach, American Baptist minister, and author Margaret Marcuson to talk about what it takes for pastors and ministry leaders to stay in their work without losing themselves in the process. Margaret has spent more than two decades helping pastors become less burdened in ministry. She shares why over-responsibility is so common among leaders, how expectations from congregations and family patterns can reinforce it, and why setting limits is about more than time management. It requires clarity about your role, your responsibility, and your call. Together, Tonya and Margaret explore what happens when pastors step back, why guilt does not always mean you are making the wrong choice, and how taking less responsibility can create space for other people to grow. If you have ever felt responsible for keeping everything and everyone together, this conversation is a reminder that doing your part does not mean doing it all. You’ll hear how: Pastors are navigating financial pressure, political polarization, changing churches, and the everyday emotional demands of ministry Sustainable leadership requires clarity of call and self-management, not simply better time management Taking responsibility for everything can prevent other people from learning what they are capable of doing Family patterns and expectations can shape how leaders relate to responsibility Guilt can show up when you set a healthy boundary without meaning the boundary is wrong Intentional rest creates space to be free from responsibility before exhaustion forces you to stop Healthy churches make room for connection, differing perspectives, and leadership that is not centered entirely on the pastor Pastors can begin creating sustainable ministry by protecting time off, staying connected to healthy people, and learning to “keep calm-ish” Leaving one church does not necessarily mean leaving ministry, and leaving ministry does not mean you have failed your calling Episode Highlights [01:30] What pastors and ministry leaders are carrying right now [06:50] Why sustainable ministry requires self-management and clarity of call [10:30] Taking the church off your back and letting go of the outcome [14:10] Why over-responsibility can become part of a leader’s identity [17:30] False guilt and what happens when you finally step back [21:10] Why naps, rest, and turning off notifications belong in sustainable ministry [25:00] Is church still worth it and what makes a church healthy? [28:20] Three small ways pastors can make ministry more sustainable [30:00] What to consider when you are thinking about leaving ministry Resources & Mentions Sustainable Ministry: How to Lead and When to Nap (https://a.co/d/04ttgKny) by Margaret Marcuson Leaders Who Last (https://www.amazon.com/Leaders-Who-Last-Sustaining-Yourself/dp/1596270950/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=leaders+who+last&qid=1553541718&s=gateway&sr=8-2) by Margaret Marcuson Margaret Marcuson’s clergy coaching (https://www.margaretmarcuson.com/coaching-for-your-ministry/) Meet Our Guest Margaret Marcuson is a clergy coach, American Baptist minister, and author who has spent more than two decades helping pastors and ministry leaders develop sustainable approaches to leadership. After serving as a pastor herself for about 15 years, Margaret began coaching clergy to lead with greater freedom, clarity, and less over-responsibility. Her latest book, Sustainable Ministry: How to Lead and When to Nap, explores how pastors can take responsibility for themselves within the systems they serve without carrying the entire church on their backs. Meet Your Host Tonya Kubo is a community strategist, writer, and rebel with a cause: helping people find the place where they truly belong. She’s spent nearly two decades building online spaces that feel more like chosen family than comment sections, and she’s not afraid to call out the fluff in favor of real connection. As the founder of Find Your Freaks, Tonya brings together unconventional thinkers, builders, and bridge-makers who believe that “normal” was never the point. When she’s not hosting the show, she’s raising two daughters, leading client communities, and making meaning out of the mess. Support the Show If Find Your Freaks matters to you, help us keep it ad-free by buying us a coffee (or two!) (https://tonya.link/coffee). Every dollar goes to production so more weirdos can find their people. You can purchase Find Your Freaks merchandise online (https://www.bonfire.com/store/abilities--attitudes/) through Abilities and Attitudes. Let’s Stay Freaky Facebook Group (https://tonya.link/group) LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/in/tonyakubo) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tonyakubo/) Podcast Hub (https://findyourfreaks.com/) What’s Next Next episode, Tonya reflects on how Margaret’s perspective applies far beyond pastors to anyone expected to hold other people together. What does it cost to become everyone else’s emotional safety net?

3. 

   20 Aug 2026

   031 – Who Should You Trust When You're New to Homeschooling?

   Why lived experience matters when everyone online sounds like an expert The internet is great at surfacing ideas. What it doesn’t do well is tell you which ideas have held up over time. Algorithms reward certainty, simple answers, and quick wins, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between people who sound like experts and those who have earned their perspective through years of experience. In this solo episode, Tonya Kubo reflects on her conversation with Jen Mackinnon and shares how it came full circle when she unexpectedly began homeschooling her 12-year-old this spring. Returning to the homeschool world reminded Tonya that what worked for one child, season, or family may not work for another. It also revealed how challenging it can be for newer homeschool families to find advice from people who have already made it through the hard years. Building on that realization, Tonya explores why experienced people rarely speak in absolutes. They say “it depends,” ask for more context, and openly acknowledge when their opinions have changed. That isn’t a lack of confidence. It’s the perspective that comes from trying different approaches, making mistakes, navigating burnout, and discovering that some lessons can only be learned through time. Tonya also shares the story behind Been There, Homeschooled That, a free online summit for families in their first three years of homeschooling. She isn’t hosting the summit because she considers herself a homeschool expert. She’s hosting it because she’s an experienced community builder who knows how to find remarkable people, vet real experience, and create spaces where different perspectives can coexist. Every speaker has launched at least one homeschooled child into adulthood because newer homeschoolers don’t need one perfect answer. They need experienced people who can help them ask better questions and find the answers that work for their families. You’ll hear how: The internet rewards confidence more often than experience or proven success Algorithms associate certainty, simple language, and named frameworks with authority Experienced people say “it depends” because they understand the importance of context Changing your mind can be a sign of earned wisdom rather than inconsistency What works for one child, family, or season of homeschooling may not work for another There is no single curriculum, routine, or philosophy that works for every homeschool family Community matters when one space only recognizes part of your identity or circumstances Perfection is not the goal when choosing curriculum or building a homeschool routine Some lessons about burnout, adolescence, and launching children can only be learned through time Been There, Homeschooled That connects newer families with veteran homeschoolers who have lived through the hard years Episode Highlights [01:15] How Tonya unexpectedly found herself homeschooling again [03:00] Who do you trust when everyone online sounds like an expert? [03:50] Why the internet rewards confidence more than experience [08:40] What experienced people mean when they say “it depends” [13:30] The conversation that inspired a summit for homeschool “dinosaurs” [16:35] Why there is no single right way to homeschool [22:30] Why newer homeschoolers need guidance from people who have survived the hard years [26:30] The story and purpose behind Been There, Homeschooled That Resources & Mentions Been There, Homeschooled That (https://dinosummits.com/homeschool/) – Register for the free online summit taking place September 1–3, 2026, with recordings available through September 8 Episode 030 (https://www.tonyakubo.com/030-the-hidden-life-of-working-homeschool-moms-with-jen-mackinnon/) – The Hidden Life of Working Homeschool Moms with Jen Mackinnon Practical by Defaul (https://practicalbydefault.com/)t (https://practicalbydefault.com/) – Practical resources and support for working homeschool moms Working Homeschool Mom Club (https://www.facebook.com/groups/WorkingHomeschoolMomClub/) – Jen Mackinnon’s free community for moms balancing work and homeschooling Meet Your Host Tonya Kubo is a community strategist, marketing consultant, and rebel with a cause: helping people find the place where they truly belong. For nearly two decades, she’s built online spaces that feel less like comment sections and more like chosen family. She’s the fixer you call when your Facebook group has gone straight-up Lord of the Flies and the bouncer at the door of internet nonsense. As the host of Find Your Freaks, Tonya brings together unconventional thinkers and bridge-builders who know “normal” was never the point. Her favorite spaces? The ones where the freak flags fly high. Support the Show If Find Your Freaks matters to you, help us keep it ad-free by buying us a coffee (or two!) (https://tonya.link/coffee). Every dollar goes to production so more weirdos can find their people. You can purchase Find Your Freaks merchandise online (https://www.bonfire.com/store/abilities--attitudes/) through Abilities and Attitudes. Let’s Stay Freaky Facebook Group (https://tonya.link/group) LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/in/tonyakubo) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tonyakubo/) Podcast Hub (https://findyourfreaks.com/) What’s Next Next time, Tonya talks with clergy coach and author Margaret Marcuson about sustainable ministry, clergy burnout, and what happens when the people holding communities together can no longer hold themselves together.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

1,710

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

32

Social presence

91

YouTube

68

Engagement

32

Contact Find Your Freaks

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.