
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

Sep 23, 2024 • 35min
263: How you Know You ARE Spiritually Growing Up!
Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Embracing Anxiety, Ambiguity & Ambivalence as a Grown-A** Adults [Part I of IV]Join Val and Nathan in this fast-paced 4-part conversation walking you through some hard evidence that you ARE, in fact, growing up! This series tackles why humans long for certainty, and how early life is mainly focused on avoiding anxiety. It goes on to help you see that the faith journey offers you all of the ingredients for growth in ways that you could not have imagined possible. If you LOVE the psychology of the faith journey explained—here’s another series for you! https://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/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/

Sep 20, 2024 • 44min
🔒 262: Exclusive Ask Val Anything: Finding Courage, Defining My Own Spiritual Beliefs
Subscriber-only episodeSend us a Positive Review!Hey, amazing Friday Full-Content Fans! You have questions? Val has responses! For the next few Fridays (and other Fridays in the future) she’ll be answering YOUR questions. This episode’s questions and discussion points:- What is the hardest part of your work?- I'm about to file for divorce and I am so scared of all the unknowns.- What podcasts do you love?https://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/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/

Sep 16, 2024 • 35min
261: Differentiation as Key to Wise Decision Making w/ Dr Julie Hanks
Send us a Positive Review!Join Val and colleague Dr. Julie Hanks as they dive into the topic of differentiation and how being differentiated is the key to our making healthy choices related to our relationship with the church. This episode is a wonderful “teaser” for those who want to jump into their FINAL 4-week Q&A session, focused on supporting those people perplexed about how to relate to the LDS Church. This session will not only include a Q&A but also include instruction on practical ways to develop differentiation skills. This is a four week series, held on October 8, 15, 22, 29 on zoom 7-8p MT. Seats are limited and will go fast! http://drjuliehanks.as.me/decidehttps://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/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/

Sep 13, 2024 • 55min
🔒 260: Ask Val Anything: Juggling Faith Crisis and Parenting a Full-Time Missionary
Subscriber-only episodeSend us a Positive Review!Hey, amazing Friday subscribers! You have questions? Val has responses! For the next few Fridays (and other Fridays in the future) she’ll be answering YOUR questions. This episode's questions: - How do I support a full-time missionary child when I'm struggling with some of the church's teachings? - How do I talk to my heartbroken father about my faith journey?- What is your exact education and background?https://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/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/

Sep 9, 2024 • 1h 2min
259: Not Fearing Others’ Faith Journeys: A Crucial Conversation with Faith Matters
Send us a Positive Review!A couple of months ago Valerie was invited by the Faith Matters Podcast to speak about one of the toughest topics they’ve ever covered—how to navigate the faith journey of a loved one when that faith journey seems to be costing a marriage or family eternal life together with that loved one. When that episode dropped, both the Latter Day Struggles and the Faith Matters platforms were flooded with messages of gratitude from people grateful that important conversations like these are happening and grateful for a different and expanded way to think about the sacredness of each of our faith journeys. Many people have reported that due to this episode, they can feel present, peaceful, and supportive of the spiritual journey of a loved one—instead of drowning in fear.Here is the episode. We hope you’ll share this with your more traditionally believing family members if you think it speaks to their fears about your journey.https://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/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/

Sep 6, 2024 • 50min
🔒 258: Introducing "ASK VAL ANYTHING!"
Subscriber-only episodeSend us a Positive Review!Hey, amazing Friday subscribers! You have questions? Val has responses! For the next few Fridays (and other Fridays in the future) she’ll be answering YOUR questions. This episode’s questions:- What are your thoughts about Gods controlling things and letting bad things happen to us? - How can I best support my significant other who feels he has lost all footing in or with the church? - What are the most life changing books you have read and why? https://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/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/

Sep 2, 2024 • 1h 22min
257: Creating Communities of Unconditional Belonging with Aubrey Chaves
Send us a Positive Review!Join Valerie and fellow podcaster Aubrey Chaves of the Faith Matters podcast as together they discuss the vision and purpose of the Restore Conference. A common belief among these two brave and compassionate women? True growth and connection is about being welcome and accepted wherever you are on your faith journey. No fine print. In their unique ways each are involved in efforts for their LDS and surrounding fellow travelers. Listen in to hear why they are so committed to this work! https://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/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/

Aug 30, 2024 • 54min
🔒 256: Personal Reflections on the Intensity of the LDS Enlightenment Journey
Subscriber-only episodeSend us a Positive Review! Series Title: Plato's Allegory of the Cave & the LDS Faith Expansion Journey [Part IV of IV] In this final, exclusive episode of a four-part series on Plato's “Allegory of the Cave”, Val and Nathan get more personal about how this allegory resonates with their own experiences. They share their thoughts on how spiritual development rooted in fear can hinder us from reaching true selfhood. They talk about some of the catalysts and “small fires” that ignited their own journeys toward enlightenment, and the complex, sacred, and sometimes lonely experiences they've had in that pursuit. Valerie and Nathan emphasize the importance of supporting others on a similar path, and the connections that can be forged in these growing, painful, expansion spaces. https://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/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/

Aug 26, 2024 • 47min
255: Returning to the Cave: Facing Inner & Outer Conflict on the Enlightenment Journey
Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Plato's Allegory of the Cave & the LDS Faith Expansion Journey [Part III of IV]In this episode, Valerie and Nathan delve into how faith journeys can be compared to the transformative experience of seeing the sun for the first time and the internal and external struggle that comes with returning to the cave. How does the hero of Plato’s story reconcile his new perspective in his old surroundings? Val and Nathan discuss how enlightenment changes our perspective and ignites a desire to share new insights with others. While this desire may be well intentioned, it creates conflict and resistance when it is forced upon others.In Friday’s episode, Val and Nathan talk specifically about how this allegory relates to the LDS faith journey and open up about some of the complexities that have come with their own spiritual awakenings. https://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/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/

Aug 23, 2024 • 40min
🔒 254: Breaking Free from the Chains: A Journey Towards Enlightenment
Subscriber-only episodeSend us a Positive Review!Series title: Plato's Allegory of the Cave & the LDS Faith Expansion Journey [Part II of IV]In part two (of this four part series), Valerie and Nathan continue to explore Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and the gradual steps in moving from distortion and darkness to enlightenment. They break down the individual elements described in the allegory, what they symbolize , and how these elements distort reality and hold us back from finding truth. They talk about why this process must be self driven, and while it may be terrifying, it ultimately leads to a greater capacity for growth and spiritual enlightenment. https://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/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/
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