
Latter Day Struggles
The Latter Day Struggles Podcast addresses beliefs and issues within the LDS faith that are challenging to talk about but vital to discuss for those trying to navigate their relationship in or around the church. Valerie and her guests invite psychological maturity, theological health, and institutional integrity.
Latest episodes

Jun 2, 2025 • 45min
335: Patriarchy and the Deeply Embedded "Female Fear Factory"
Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: In-depth Exploration of Patriarchy & its Correlation to Violence & Abuse [Part III of X]In this jaw-dropping episode (at least it was jaw-dropping for Val & Nath to prepare and produce) Val & Nathan talk about the "Female Fear Factory" which is a phrase intended to communicate the implicit rules that girls and women worldwide are taught to follow in order to be safe in this world where patriarchy is treated as a "given" that must be managed and obeyed. If you care about the spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing of yourself, your loved ones (of all genders) and your community at large--this series is a crucial masterclass. Referenced in this Episode: The Female Fear Factory; Unravelling Patriarchy's Cultures of Violence - Pumla Dineo GqolaSupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Donate: Venmo or Patreon Visit our Website

May 26, 2025 • 30min
333: Patriarchy & Harm: Proven Connections to Abuse & Violence
Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: In-depth Exploration of Patriarchy and its Correlation to Violence & Abuse [Part I of X]In this opening episode of this incredibly important series, Val & Nathan offer an overview of what is to come in the episodes that follow. This series has been a labor of love for this couple who care deeply about their Latter-day Saint and surrounding loved ones and want to spread the word far and wide that all patriarchy is harmful but we live in day and age where institutional patriarchy MUST be lovingly challenged for the welfare of every single human being. Patriarchy is tightly correlated to actual violence and abuse. If nothing else convinces you that reform is needed...maybe this will give you pause.Mentioned in this Episode: Podcast: Breaking Down Patriarchy- Episode 37: How to be an Anti-Patriarchist with Levi Murray Podcast: The Foyer- Season 3 Episode 3 Women's Equality: It Absolutely Matters Support the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Donate: Venmo or Patreon Visit our Website

May 19, 2025 • 41min
331: Why Very Few Shout: "The Emperor Has No Clothes!"
Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Living in a World of Hypernormalization [Part I of II]In this episode Val shares an update about how she is processing the recent events of her and Nathan's forced resignation in the face of excommunication by looking at this both as a personal issue for them but also plays with the idea that they are playing a symbolic role in a much larger narrative that is unfolding and colliding in both conservative Christian AND conservative political spaces and is gaining steam due to the concept of HYPERNORMALIZATION: a social phenomenon where cultural collectives know that things are very wrong but pretend that all is well. Friday's episode dives into how HYPERNORMALIZATION might explain much that is going on in our own heritage tradition and why those who do not participate in the "rules of hypernormalization" (by acknowledging issues exist) are punished. Support the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Donate: Venmo or Patreon Visit our Website

May 12, 2025 • 57min
329: The Official Faith Crisis Report: A Backstage Pass with Greg Prince
Join Greg Prince, a renowned historian and author on Mormon history, as he shares behind-the-scenes insights about 'The Official Faith Crisis Report.' He discusses the disconnect experienced by educated church members and the emerging faith crises within the LDS community. The importance of empathy from church leaders is emphasized, alongside the challenges in conveying grassroots ideas to top governance. Listeners will appreciate the exploration of personal experiences and the significance of community support in navigating faith transitions.

May 5, 2025 • 40min
327: Jesus Eats with "Outcasts" to Embody that HE Knows No Outcast
Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Transcending Church Rules on the PathTowards Genuine Christlike Discipleship w/Russ Hinckley Part III of IVWhat do you think Jesus would desire that we focus on in our worship services and within our larger lives? In these last two episodes of this series Val invites Russ to share his thoughts on his "Christ Creed", or his "rewrite" of what he thinks Jesus would want his followers to focus on. In this episode they focus their conversation on Jesus using social gatherings and meals to push back against cultural outgroups. Among other topics, they dig into why and how Jesus' ministry tries to prove that society (not God) creates out groups. Jump into this one--so good!Beyond Belief - Russ HinckleyTattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion- Gregory BoyleSupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Donate: Venmo or Patreon Visit our Website

Apr 28, 2025 • 39min
325: Why Jesus Likely Couldn't Care Less about Church Handbooks & Creeds
Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Transcending Church Rules on the Path Towards Genuine Christlike Discipleship w/Russ Hinckley Part I of IVWelcome to a beautiful series featuring guest author Russ Hinckley (who doesn't mind being referred to as Mr. Susan Hinckley of the "At Last She Said It" podcast) where Val and Russ explore his book "Beyond Belief" a radical reinterpretation of what Jesus likely would have those who gathered in his name focus on. In this episode Russ and Val riff a bit about early Christian history and why creeds (official belief statements) were made and why Jesus likely could not care less about what are in those creeds. The rest of the series tackles what Jesus would probably have us focus on as individuals, families, and congregations.Beyond Belief - Russ HinckleySupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Donate: Venmo or Patreon Visit our Website

Apr 21, 2025 • 58min
323: Sometimes Love Uses a Microphone
Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Valerie is invited to be a guest on "Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt," a podcast where she shares many experiences leading to her choice to commit her career to the psychological and spiritual healing of those connected to her own Latter-day Saint faith tradition.Val shares some personal experiences, some of her reasons for beginning and staying in this nerve wracking space, about the ups and downs of the work she does. Mostly she shares her conviction that what she is doing feels deeply "right" to her core... that when one knows they are in their integrity, other concerns fall away.Join Valerie and host Meagan Skidmore for a fresh, heartfelt look at faith journey—through the eyes of someone who’s walking the path right alongside you.Support the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Donate: Venmo or Patreon Visit our Website

Apr 14, 2025 • 57min
321: The Feminine Divine in the Mormon Cosmos with Kathryn Sonntag & Taylor Petrey
Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: A Look into the Minds of Creators of The Mother Tree & Queering Kinship in the Mormon Cosmos [Part I of II] Why is my job the very best? Because I get to sit down with two of the kindest, more brilliant and beautiful souls out there--Kathryn Sonntag and Taylor Petrey-- to facilitate a conversation about all things modern Mormon feminism, scripture, symbology, and the feminine divine. The Mother Tree: Discovering the Love and Wisdom of Our Divine Mother - Kathryn Knight SonntagQueering Kinship in the Mormon Cosmos - Taylor G. PetreySupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Donate: Venmo or Patreon Visit our Website

Apr 7, 2025 • 44min
319: "Queering" Ideas about Heavenly Mother in the Mormon Cosmos
Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: A Deep Dive into the Fascinating Cosmos Found in Taylor Petrey's Queering Kinship in the Mormon Cosmos [Part III of IV] One definition of "queering" that Taylor uses in his book is to complicate or expand--and this episode does just that in the realm of the feminine divine. Buckle up as Taylor and Val walk through his fascinating ideas regarding what Latter Day Saints call Heavenly Mother. This episode addresses historical and current scholarship around this highly charged topic and offers new ideas on how we might see this part of our theology in a whole new and provocative way. Queering Kinship in the Mormon Cosmos - Taylor PetreySupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Donate: Venmo or Patreon Visit our Website

Mar 31, 2025 • 35min
317: Ideas on a Heaven Large Enough for All Loving Connection
Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: A Deep Dive into the Fascinating Cosmos Found in Taylor Petrey's Queering Kinship in the Mormon Cosmos [Part I of IV] In this episode Val and guest scholar and author Taylor Petrey set this series up by walking through the focus of Taylor's phenomenal new book, Queering Kinship in the Mormon Cosmos. They set the stage to blow your mind in the many ways that an open-minded and close reading of scripture makes all kinds of space for a heaven packed with not just heterosexual love and connection. Welcome to the world of "kinship"!Queering Kinship in the Mormon Cosmos - Taylor PetreySupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Donate: Venmo or Patreon Visit our Website