CALLING HOME with Whitney Goodman, LMFT Reacting to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives with Samantha Dalton
Nov 25, 2025
Samantha Dalton, a group facilitator at Calling Home and host of the Nuance Needed podcast, shares her journey of deconstructing Mormonism, highlighting how deeply it permeates personal and communal life. She discusses the emotional immaturity fostered by early marriage norms, the challenges of gender roles, and the dynamics of accountability among men. The conversation also explores reality TV's complex role in destigmatizing trauma and the necessity of brave storytelling to reduce shame. Samantha's insights shed light on the interplay of religion, culture, and identity.
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Religion As Totalizing Culture
- Mormonism functions as both religion and totalizing culture that shapes daily decisions and identity.
- Samantha Dalton says the church is woven into every inch of life, from dress to family routines.
Seeing Home On Screen
- Samantha recognized many filming locations from living in Utah and felt personal resonance watching the show.
- She could geolocate restaurants, hair salons, and neighborhoods from the scenes.
Rushed Adulthood Harms Emotional Growth
- Early marriage is culturally encouraged, often before full emotional development completes.
- Dalton argues people are thrust into marriage/parenting without a period for self-exploration, producing emotional immaturity.
