Subscriber-only episodeSend us a Positive Review!Series Title: The Profound Impact of Feminine Suppression on Men and their Churches [Part II of VIII]In this episode Val and Nathan move from the theoretical to the practical and talk about what it actually looks like on the ground when divine masculine and feminine energies are not appreciated, balanced, and celebrated. They use a handful of specific masculine attributes that are prominent within LDS culture and practice to demonstrate what imbalance looks like, what feminine attributes might be called upon to provide the needed counterbalance, and how all humans involved in imbalanced collectives are stagnated in their growth and development. If you have always wanted "words" to describe some of the "senses" you have had while on your faith journey, Val and Nathan think this series is going to blow your mind. What they have learned in the study and preparation of this series has changed their perspectives in countless ways. They are so excited to share this information with you, their podcasting family!  Want to support Valerie & Nathan?Share this episode Become a Monday & Friday Listener: Limited-time Sale on Annual Subscription $69: app.helloaudio.fm/feed/455929cb-0267-4c17-aa18-9469c4003feb/signup Monthly Subscription: $9.99. app.helloaudio.fm/feed/45de445a-7109-4ad4-a670-231a20dc02d9/signup Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠ Join a group: https://valeriehamaker.com/support-groups/ Visit our website: https://valeriehamaker.com/

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: The Profound Impact of Feminine Suppression on Men and their Churches [Part I of VIII]Val and Nathan's series tackling the common traits connecting psychologically/spiritually underdeveloped people with men strongly socialized in a patriarchy went NUTS in response, shares, and downloads (episodes 283-288) as expected.  Why?  Because our LDS faith expanding community seems to be STARVING to learn more about what health and wholeness looks like when women and men are both seen and treated as equals.  No fear, there is SO MUCH to say on this topic...at least eight more episodes!  In this opening episode of a new series diving even deeper into the on-the-ground costs exacted on men due to their patriarchal wiring, Val and Nathan start by creating a framework for what healthy masculinity and femininity could look like in every human being socialized as equals (no matter their gender!)  This episode focuses on how masculinity/maleness and femininity/femaleness are often used interchangeably and deeply misunderstood in this patriarchal world where we've all be raised.  This episode sets the record straight on this topic as a foundation of the rest of this series.   This entire 8-part series aims to foster a more balanced understanding of both masculine and feminine traits within all people regardless of gender, particularly within the context of the LDS faith community as we confront the relational and spiritual harm caused by patriarchal structures of every shape and size.  Support the showWant to support Valerie & Nathan?Share this episode Become a Monday & Friday Listener: Limited-time Sale on Annual Subscription $69: app.helloaudio.fm/feed/455929cb-0267-4c17-aa18-9469c4003feb/signup Monthly Subscription: $9.99. app.helloaudio.fm/feed/45de445a-7109-4ad4-a670-231a20dc02d9/signup Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠ Join a group: https://valeriehamaker.com/support-groups/ Visit our website: https://valeriehamaker.com/

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a Positive Review!Series Title: Cutting Edge Research on the LDS Faith Journey Experience [Part II of II]In this series' second half with the amazing author and researcher Jana Riess, you won't be disappointed in an abundance of aha moments and things to ponder after the closing music. Val and Jana delve deeply into several aspects of Jana's current research (yes...new book forthcoming and you're hearing about it HERE before anyone else!) and dive deep into what Jana is learning about the important role that "edge" people (on the inside or the outside) play in bridging our sadly divided space. Jana and Val also tackle the very complex topic of negotiating church activity during faith transitions and how members handle shifts in sexual behavior and shame. These discussions provide a comprehensive view of how personal identity and community intersect during faith transitions.Jana's book The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church can be found HERE Want to support Valerie & Nathan?Share this episode Become a Monday & Friday Listener: Limited-time Sale on Annual Subscription $69: app.helloaudio.fm/feed/455929cb-0267-4c17-aa18-9469c4003feb/signup Monthly Subscription: $9.99. app.helloaudio.fm/feed/45de445a-7109-4ad4-a670-231a20dc02d9/signup Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠ Join a group: https://valeriehamaker.com/support-groups/ Visit our website: https://valeriehamaker.com/

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Cutting Edge Research on the LDS Faith Journey Experience [Part I of II]You're in for a wonderful two episodes here as Valerie welcomes researcher and author Jana Reiss for a conversation brimming with details about Jana's current project (a forthcoming book!) centered around the diverse personal experiences of hundreds of people on the LDS faith spectrum. In order to not give too many spoilers for the next two episodes, you'll need to tune in to hear what she is learning in both her surveys and oral history interviews about people like yourself and also about people whom you love on different places of the spectrum. In this info-packed two part conversation they hit (among other things!): sociopolitical influences on the LDS faith journey navigating sexual ethics during/after the faith journeythe role of "edge" dwellers on potentially helping our LDS faith spectrum learn how to talk to one anotherJana's research is in part an effort to help us wherever we are on the LDS spectrum understand one another better...which we couldn't love more here on the Latter Day Struggles podcast! Jana's book The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church can be found HERESupport the showWant to support Valerie & Nathan?Share this episode Become a Monday & Friday Listener: Limited-time Sale on Annual Subscription $69: app.helloaudio.fm/feed/455929cb-0267-4c17-aa18-9469c4003feb/signup Monthly Subscription: $9.99. app.helloaudio.fm/feed/45de445a-7109-4ad4-a670-231a20dc02d9/signup Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠ Join a group: https://valeriehamaker.com/support-groups/ Visit our website: https://valeriehamaker.com/

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a Positive Review!In this recording of the  December's Office Hours special event offered to all of our "Full Content" Family of Listeners, Valerie answers a variety of questions from several listeners anxious about holiday events in the throes of the LDS faith journey.  During the holidays (or any family event surrounded by more traditionally believing family and friends) do you find yourself worried about how to talk to people whom you've never had trouble talking to before? Do you ruminate about how much to share? How much to not share? What is appropriate to share and when?  Is it okay to ask loved ones to not just assume you are open to traditional activities that might make you uncomfortable now that your worldview is shifting?  Who knew a family party could become so stressful?  Listen in for some questions and responses that likely will remind you that you are not alone in the relational complications of the LDS faith journey--especially connected to family gatherings.Want to support Valerie & Nathan?Share this episode Become a Monday & Friday Listener: Limited-time Sale on Annual Subscription $69: app.helloaudio.fm/feed/455929cb-0267-4c17-aa18-9469c4003feb/signup Monthly Subscription: $9.99. app.helloaudio.fm/feed/45de445a-7109-4ad4-a670-231a20dc02d9/signup Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠ Join a group: https://valeriehamaker.com/support-groups/ Visit our website: https://valeriehamaker.com/

Send us a Positive Review!When someone starts a podcast in the LDS faith journey space, one question that is often asked is this: "Have You ALWAYS had this much courage?" Join Valerie in this episode as she asks this question to friends and colleagues Susan and Cynthia of "At Last She Said It". In this episode Susan & Cynthia share very different stories about their journeys that led them to the airwaves. Their stories are each unique in part because their temperaments are totally different, and perhaps that is what makes their work so relatable, engaging, and inspiring. So whether you are an introvert (like Susan) or an extrovert (like Cynthia) there will definitely be something in this episode for you if you're looking to find that backbone and voice of your own to use in some realm of your life! Support the showWant to support Valerie & Nathan?Share this episode Become a Monday & Friday Listener: Limited-time Sale on Annual Subscription $69: app.helloaudio.fm/feed/455929cb-0267-4c17-aa18-9469c4003feb/signup Monthly Subscription: $9.99. app.helloaudio.fm/feed/45de445a-7109-4ad4-a670-231a20dc02d9/signup Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠ Join a group: https://valeriehamaker.com/support-groups/ Visit our website: https://valeriehamaker.com/

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a Positive Review!Happy holidays Latter Day Struggles listeners!  For the next four episodes you will enjoy a few "Classic" episodes that have received some of the highest number of downloads and waves of feedback that these are among some of the most impactful episodes for many listeners.Also, as a way to share my love and gratitude for all of you during this holiday season, the classic episodes dropped on Friday 12/27/24 and Monday 1/3/25 will be open to ALL listeners!  Thank you for your support as your subscriptions make this podcast possible and sustainable in the long run.  Today’s Classic episode is 214: Show notes: In this episode Valerie and Nathan explore how healthy identity development is stifled for both men and women due to the patriarchal structure of the church.They discuss how a patriarchy cultivates a robust false self ego identity in the "one up" male gender and how the structure of the church stifles healthy ego development in the “one down” female gender in several ways (which they discuss in detail in this episode). This entire series calls for a reevaluation of the current unequal distribution of opportunities for the growth and development of the true self in the LDS church and invites this church to become a place where all humans are nurtured in the development of their whole selves. **More sensitive or more psychologically advanced themes are saved for paid Friday episodes to protect the content creators from being mischaracterized by less familiar consumers.**Want to support Valerie & Nathan?Share this episode Become a Monday & Friday Listener: Limited-time Sale on Annual Subscription $69: app.helloaudio.fm/feed/455929cb-0267-4c17-aa18-9469c4003feb/signup Monthly Subscription: $9.99. app.helloaudio.fm/feed/45de445a-7109-4ad4-a670-231a20dc02d9/signup Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠ Join a group: https://valeriehamaker.com/support-groups/ Visit our website: https://valeriehamaker.com/

Send us a Positive Review!Happy holidays Latter Day Struggles listeners!  For the next four episodes you will enjoy a few "Classic" episodes that have received some of the highest number of downloads and waves of feedback that these are among some of the most impactful episodes for many listeners.Also, as a way to share my love and gratitude for all of you during this holiday season, the classic episodes dropped on Friday 12/27/24 and Monday 1/3/25 will be open to ALL listeners!  Thank you for your support as your subscriptions make this podcast possible and sustainable in the long run.  Today’s Classic is episode 211: Show notes: Join Valerie as she explores a variety of topics connected to the 2024 rebirth of the Law of Common Consent demonstrated by LDS women throughout the world who recently voted "opposed" to claims that women in the LDS church have more authority than women of other church's worldwide. In this episode, Valerie processes a variety of topics including: **Several reasons why the LDS church has chronic struggles with allowing women equality. **A conversation about historical lack of collaboration with systems of learning, knowledge, and worldwide restoration enlightenment. **A maladaptive commitment to "immovability". **A conversation about the need to address intersectionality of the feminine divine and queer issues in LDS "eternal family" theology.**Encouragement to embody love as the foundational energy of lasting spiritually-empowering social reform. Support the showWant to support Valerie & Nathan?Share this episode Become a Monday & Friday Listener: Limited-time Sale on Annual Subscription $69: app.helloaudio.fm/feed/455929cb-0267-4c17-aa18-9469c4003feb/signup Monthly Subscription: $9.99. app.helloaudio.fm/feed/45de445a-7109-4ad4-a670-231a20dc02d9/signup Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠ Join a group: https://valeriehamaker.com/support-groups/ Visit our website: https://valeriehamaker.com/

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a Positive Review!Happy holidays Latter Day Struggles listeners!  For the next four episodes you will enjoy a few "Classic" episodes that have received some of the highest number of downloads and waves of feedback that these are among some of the most impactful episodes for many listeners.Also, as a way to share my love and gratitude for all of you during this holiday season, the classic episodes dropped on Friday 12/27/24 and Monday 1/3/25 will be open to ALL listeners!  Thank you for your support as your subscriptions make this podcast possible and sustainable in the long run.  In this beautiful and tender episode, Valerie has the privilege of interviewing LDS theologian Fiona Givens about her early life, diverse experiences, important relationships, and classical education that eventually led her into the LDS faith and deeply into the study of many facets of the nature of God.This story is one of all of the typical ups and downs, seemingly insignificant events that lead to other more significant events, and finally a few moments where Valerie proposes to Fiona why her unique life distinctively prepared her for the work that she is doing now; something that is profoundly blessing thousands of faith-expanding Latter Day Saints in this era.  Perhaps Fiona is our own “Esther”, prepared for such a time as now.Don’t miss this truly love-filled episode if you have found healing through the work of Fiona Givens.  It will endear you to her even more.Books referenced in this episode:The God Who Weeps: How Mormonism Makes Sense of LifeThe Christ Who Heals: How God Restored the Truth that Saves UsThe Crucible of Doubt: Reflections On the Quest for FaithAll Things New: Rethinking Sin, Salvation, and Everything in BetweenToday’s Classic is episode: 126 Show notes: In this beautiful and tender episode, Valerie has the privilege of interviewing LDS theologian Fiona Givens about her early life, diverse experiences, important relationships, and classical education that eventually led her into the LDS faith and deeply into the study of many facets of the nature of God.This story is one of all of the typical ups and downs, seemingly insignificant events that lead to other more significant events, and finally a few moments where Valerie proposes to Fiona why her unique life distinctively prepared her for the work that she is doing now; something that is profoundly blessing thousands of faith-expanding Latter Day Saints in this era.  Perhaps Fiona is our own “Esther”, prepared for such a time as now.Don’t miss this truly love-filled episode if you have found healing through the work of Fiona Givens.  It will endear you to her even more.Books referenced in this episode:Want to support Valerie & Nathan?Share this episode Become a Monday & Friday Listener: Limited-time Sale on Annual Subscription $69: app.helloaudio.fm/feed/455929cb-0267-4c17-aa18-9469c4003feb/signup Monthly Subscription: $9.99. app.helloaudio.fm/feed/45de445a-7109-4ad4-a670-231a20dc02d9/signup Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠ Join a group: https://valeriehamaker.com/support-groups/ Visit our website: https://valeriehamaker.com/

Send us a Positive Review!Happy holidays Latter Day Struggles listeners!  For the next four episodes you will enjoy a few "Classic" episodes that have received some of the highest number of downloads and waves of feedback that these are among some of the most impactful episodes for many listeners.Also, as a way to share my love and gratitude for all of you during this holiday season, the classic episodes dropped on Fridays 12/27/24 and  1/3/25 will be open to ALL listeners!  Thank you for your support as your subscriptions make this podcast possible and sustainable in the long run.  Today’s “Classic” is episode 125: Show notes: Join Valerie and guest Fiona Givens as together they discuss a true prophetess and mystic, Julian of Norwich.Father Richard Rohr has often called Julian his "favorite mystic" and Fiona attributes this woman as one of the most personally influential to her in the development of her own whole and holy theology of the divine.  If these two recommendations aren't enough for you...then I don't know what to say!A few highlights of this episode:**Julian's “showings” really shine a light on God’s inability to be angry with us for our humanness**Our current struggles with the nature of God in some brings up pain, anxiety, religious scrupulosity, and defection from the church**Our misunderstandings of the nature of God brings up generational trauma to the extent that we perpetuate a God concept that estranges us from Julian's God of infinite love**According to Julian's visions, sin is “no thing” in God’s eyes.  Our missteps are the education that endears us to God**As a committed Catholic, Julian too struggles with heavenly visions that did not align with the teachings of her “holy church” and she [as do we] does the work of differentiating her church’s imperfections with her personal revelations, choosing to align with the truth that was revealed to her directly from it’s sourceBook referenced in this episode:Julian of Norwich: The Showings: Uncovering the Face of the Feminine in Revelations of Divine Love, by Mirabai StarrThe God Who Weeps: How Mormonism Makes Sense of Life, by Terry and Fiona GivensSupport the showWant to support Valerie & Nathan?Share this episode Become a Monday & Friday Listener: Limited-time Sale on Annual Subscription $69: app.helloaudio.fm/feed/455929cb-0267-4c17-aa18-9469c4003feb/signup Monthly Subscription: $9.99. app.helloaudio.fm/feed/45de445a-7109-4ad4-a670-231a20dc02d9/signup Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠ Join a group: https://valeriehamaker.com/support-groups/ Visit our website: https://valeriehamaker.com/