40. Mormon Culture & Utah Life: Sam's Journey of Deconstruction (Pt 1)

In this deeply personal episode, Sam shares her experience growing up Mormon in New York and her eventual move to Utah, where she spent 15 years navigating a much more intense religious culture. In conversation, we explore:

- Sam's unique experience as a "non-Utah Mormon" and how her family's more relaxed approach differed from the mainstream

- The cultural quirks of Mormonism that most people don't understand (like special undergarments and dating pressure)

- How personal choices about substances (coffee, alcohol, cigarettes) are influenced by religious upbringing

- The overwhelming pressure to marry young and have children in Mormon culture

- What it's like trying to build a social life in Utah when you don't fit the traditional Mormon template

- The gradual realization that trying to make it work wasn't serving her anymore

This candid conversation sheds light on the subtle ways high-demand religious cultures can shape identity and limit personal growth, even when you're trying to carve your own path within them.

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