At Last She Said It

Sometimes it's good to just have fun! Episode 167 is a peek behind the curtain at ALSSI. Cynthia and Susan turn on the mics for an unscripted chat about everything from podcaster-pet-peeves to "spilled tea" to Christmas traditions. It's the kind of conversation that's probably good to publish now and then just to remind ourselves and everyone else: we're two average LDS women trying to keep it together and figuring stuff out as we go.

Lyric Montgomery Kinard uses the word expansion to describe her faith journey because, as she says, "it feels like spirituality has burst my Mormon box wide-open." In Episode 166, she joins Susan and Cynthia to talk about her experiences as a Latter-day Saint. It's another glimpse into the life of a woman who's given herself permission to walk the path in her own way, honest about what fills her and what doesn't, and willing to speak her truth.

We asked, you answered! In Bonus Episode 165, women from the ALSSI community share personal experiences and thoughts about Patriarchal Blessings.

When it comes to Patriarchal Blessings, there are as many experiences as there are members who give and receive them. In Episode 164, Cynthia and Susan are joined by Blakelee Ellis for a discussion about some of the many ways these highly anticipated blessings can be complicated for Latter-day Saint women. From the experience itself to the advice given or promises made, there can be plenty to unpack at the time the words are spoken, but also as we continue to revisit the transcript throughout our lives.

Autumn McAlpin, author of 'But Jesus: A Conversation,' discusses her journey as a mother and LDS LGBTQ+ ally. Topics include using an inner compass, struggles within the church, obtaining book rights from a musician, and navigating parenting and charity.

"I'm tired of putting Jesus in a hermeneutical box nailed together by patriarchal exegesis," says Kajsa Berlin-Kaufusi. In Episode 162, she joins Cynthia and Susan to discuss what those words mean. What might they mean specifically for Latter-day Saint women as we approach the New Testament with a desire to broaden our scriptural understanding and interpretation? Can we excavate meaning by uncovering and examining biblical women in new light?

"In the fleet, I'll sail my own boat," says Debbie Squires-Coleman. In Episode 161, she joins Cynthia and Susan from her home in England to share this and other insights in an Embracing Your Journey discussion about her experiences as a Latter-day Saint woman. It's a conversation about relationships and growth, full of wise glimpses into how it's possible to walk together in love, even on divergent paths.

In Bonus Episode 160, Susan and Cynthia share and discuss more ALSSI listener voicemails.

We started this project in an effort to amplify Latter-day Saint women's voices and create a safe space for sharing ideas and experiences. In Episode 159, Cynthia and Susan dive into listener voicemails to hear, share, and discuss things women in the ALSSI community are saying.

Telling the truth can be complicated for a Latter-day Saint woman, even if we value honesty. It's hard to say out loud some of what we're thinking, feeling, or experiencing. At church or even in our families and close relationships we may self-censor with an 'okayness' filter: Is it uplifting? Faith promoting? Too negative? Does it cast the Church in an unfavorable light? Sound contentious? Will I look less worthy/valiant/faithful? And how are others likely to react? In Episode 158, Susan and Cynthia are joined by author/columnist Jana Riess for a conversation about potential upsides and downsides of telling it like it is.