Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
789 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★★ - 812 ratingsWelcome to our podcast!
My name is Richard H. Ostler and I am a native of Salt Lake City, small business owner, married father of six with several grandchildren. I believe in and am deeply committed to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and want it to work for a wider group.
I am the author of three books:
“Listen Learn and Love: Embracing LGBTQ Latter-day Saints” published in 2020 available at Deseret Book (deseretbook.com/product/5248297.html) and Amazon (amazon.com/dp/1462135773)
“Listen Learn and Love: Improving Latter-day Saint Culture” published in 2022. The book explores who we can do better to help all Latter-day Saints feel more welcome, needed and a feeling of belonging in our congregations. Available at Deseret Book (deseretbook.com/product/6003149.html) and Amazon (amazon.com/dp/1462139566)
“Listen Learn and Love: Building the Good Ship Zion” released in Sept 2023. The book explores additional topics to help all Latter-day Saint feel welcome and needed on the Good Ship Zion. Available at Deseret Book (deseretbook.com/product/6026921.html) and Amazon (amazon.com/dp/1462145280)
The purpose of all three books is to help us better create Zion by helping more feel welcome, a sense of belonging, and needed in our congregations.
Proceed from the books go the Stockton Power Memorial Scholarship (www.standingforstockton.com) in honor of Stockton Powers a gay Latter-day Saint teenager who died of suicide in 2016. Everything I do is a self-funded labor of love ❤️
I am the author of two Ensign articles:
‘How the Savior’s Healing Power Applies to Repenting from Sexual Sin’ (August 2020/YSA Digital Only) www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/08/young-adults/how-the-saviors-healing-power-applies-to-repenting-from-sexual-sin
‘7 Tips for Overcoming Pornography Use’ (October, page 72) www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/10/young-adults/7-tips-for-overcoming-pornography-use.
This podcast is designed to discuss some more complicated issues in our church to help all of us better “listen, learn and love” so we can minister in a more effective way to all of our Heavenly Parents’ children.
Podcasts are indexed by category at listenlearnandlove.org/podcasts
Thank you for joining us. You can't donate to this podcast. There are no sponsors. But you can leave a review/rate the podcast on the platform you are listening and/or leave a review at Deseret Book/Amazon on my books.
With love, Richard 'Papa' Ostler ❤
Twitter: twitter.com/Papa_Ostler
IG: www.instagram.com/papa_ostler
Facebook: facebook.com/richard.ostler.5
E-mail: [email protected]
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Episodes
Episode 465: Spencer Thompson, Author Liahona Article
October 12, 2021 01:45 - 1 hour - 109 MBMy friend Spencer Thompson joins us to talk about his insightful recent Liahona Article which talks about his journey from shame to joy. Here is a link to the article: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/10/digital-only/same-sex-attraction-and-my-journey-from-shame-to-joy?lang=eng) Spencer, a married father of four, has some of the most unique, practical and helpful insights into the role of the Savior and His Atonement to bring hope and healing. I learn so much listeni...
Episode 464: Patrick Mason (Utah State) and David Pulsipher (BYU-Idaho): New Book
October 10, 2021 02:00 - 1 hour - 88.2 MBMy friends Patrick Mason and David Pulsipher join us to talk about their new book called Proclaim Peace: The Restoration's Answer to an Age of Conflict that is co-published with the Maxwell Institute's Living Faith series and Deseret Book. Here is a description of the book: Proclaim Peace is an extended meditation on what it means to follow the Prince of Peace in a world of violence. The book seeks not to promote any particular ideology, but rather to invite readers, especially the rising ...
Episode 463: Tim Wright, Gay Latter-day Saint
October 08, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 84.1 MBMy friend Tim Wright (RM from Spain, Age 29, Utah State Graduate) shares his story as a gay Latter-day Saints. Tim, who grew up in Morgan Utah, shares what led him to come out in May of 2021 and why coming out significantly improved his relationship with his Heavenly Father and his family. Tim, who is active in his LDS Ward, shares why he feels so much happier and a greater sense of belonging since coming out. If you are working through anger at God and/or wondering if it is time for yo...
Episode 462: Cheryl Hill, Lesbian, Out of the Church for 30 Years, Returned.
October 06, 2021 05:02 - 1 hour - 104 MBMy friend Cheryl Hill shares her remarkable journey to be rebaptized into the Church in 2017 after nearly 30 years out of the Church. Cheryl talks about her relationship with Jesus which led her back into the Church in Georgia through many miraculous experience and incredible Church members. Cheryl is joined by her therapist, Jennifer Kuck, from Georgia (who flew to Utah for the podcast) and shares insights into Cheryl’s courage to deal with the pain/trauma of prior Church experiences th...
Episode 461: Chad Cannon, Ended Pornography Use, LGBTQ kids, Has Leukemia
October 04, 2021 01:30 - 57 minutes - 78.6 MBMy friend Chad Cannon (married father of four, active LDS, age 45) join us from near Idaho Falls to share his story. Chad talks about his 30 year journey with pornography use and how the 12-step addiction recovery program (focused on the Savior) was is path to hope and healing. Chad also shares insights into being the father of two LGBTQ children and also battling a life and death illness with leukemia. If you need hope in your life to end pornography use, please listen to Chad’s story...
Episode 460: Jason Conforto, Producer of Dog Valley, Murder of Gordon Church, Gay Utahn in 1988
October 02, 2021 02:00 - 57 minutes - 78.6 MBMy friend Jason Conforto, producer at Avalanche Studios, talks about why he and director, Dave Lindsay, decided to produce the documentary film Dog Valley, about the brutal murder of Gordon Church in Millard County, Utah in 1988. Jason shares the role his friend, Chad Anderson, played in researching and bringing this story to Avalanche Studios and producing the film with them. The movie honors the life of Gordon Church and brings awareness to his horrific death. It opens the door to what ...
Episode 459: Brenna Hoffman, Wife and Mother, Faith Crisis, Decided to Leave the Church, Returned
September 30, 2021 01:46 - 1 hour - 85.9 MBMy friend Brenna Hoffman (married mother of new baby boy) shares her story of not belonging and never fully feeling accepted in Latter-day Saint culture. This feeling along with a negative experience in the temple and life-long questions led Brenna to conclude that her path was to leave the Church. Brenna shares her story, and talks about support from her convert husband (in a master’s program at BYU), family and friends, feeling accepted in non-LDS congregations and her spiritual impressi...
Episode 458: Becky Edwards, Candidate for U.S. Senate.
September 27, 2021 23:59 - 1 hour - 99.6 MBMy friend Becky Edwards joins us to talk about her run for U.S. Senate. Becky, who served 10 years in the Utah House of Representatives, talks about why she is running, past legislative successes, the importance of listening, and principles to bring us together. Becky also talks about the story of her yellow couch—now a key element of her campaign. I start the podcast with our family connection to Becky and John Edwards. During their recent missionary service in Samoa, Becky became the an...
Episode 457: Dylan Stegall, Gay BYU-Idaho Student, Plans to Become a Doctor
September 26, 2021 00:39 - 1 hour - 109 MBMy friend Dylan Stegall (Age 23, Texan, RM for Chile Santiago East) shares his journey as gay Latter-day Saint. Dylan talks about being aware of this part about him before his mission but staying really busy/productive and kind of pushing it down. Dylan talks about his successful and enjoyable mission. Dylan talks about trying to date woman at BYU-Idaho and how he gradually came to feel that is not his path. Dylan shares starting to come out to others and then a deeply spiritual expe...
Episode 456: Garrett and Sallie Ferguson
September 24, 2021 01:36 - 1 hour - 94 MBMy friends Garrett and Sallie Ferguson, married parents of 4 kids, join us from the Dallas area to share their story. They first shared in 2013 as part of the Voices of Hope project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s36K2ilFsnY. They give us an update on their lives since 2013 and what they are doing to bring more understanding to LGBTQ/SSA Latter-day Saints through their co-work as managers of the Voices of Hope project. That project has recently expanded into a podcast as part of North Star...
Episode 455: Jakob Schramm, Gay Latter-Day Saint
September 22, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 88.5 MBMy friend Jakob Schramm (Age 23, RM from the Mexico Monterrey West Mission, Mechanical Engineering at University of Utah and Utah Valley University) shares his journey as a gay Latter-day Saint. Jakob talks the journey to understand and accept this part of himself and then the thoughtful and methodical process to figure out his best path forward. Jakob talks about working through two suicidal times of his life and how he is now in a much better place thanks to the support he is receiving ...
Episode 454: Jamison Manwaring, Gay Latter-day Saint
September 19, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 98.5 MBMy friend Jamison Manwaring (RM from Eastern Canada, Business Owner, Age 40) shares his journey as a gay Latter-day Saint. Jamison talks about his efforts to make deals with God to not be gay during his closeted years growing up in Idaho Falls and coming out to his Mission President who listened without judgement. Jamison talks about difficult and painful years in his 20’s and early 30’s trying to find a way to find a way forward in a healthy and sustainable way as he navigated his sexual...
Episode 453: Ed Axley, Convert, Recently Released Bishop, Gospel Insights
September 18, 2021 12:57 - 1 hour - 91.2 MBMy friend Ed Axley (married father of four, business owner, RM from Costa Rica) share the unique aspects of our restored doctrine that led to his baptism into the Church at age 18. Ed also shares four insightful ways to respond when people open with their life situations. Ed concludes with helping each of us see ourselves as beloved children of Heavenly Parents and to never feel shame or less of ourselves—even in our worst moments. Thank you Ed for being on the podcast. You bring hope...
Episode 452: Andrea Lystrup, LMFT, Active LDS, Love, Trauma, Unity
September 16, 2021 01:42 - 1 hour - 94.5 MBMy friend Andrea Lystrup is a licensed marriage and family therapist joining us to share insights on several important topics including 1) creating Zion within our Church; 2) tools to better love each other; 3) how to balance the tension between law and love; 4) working through pain when something said at Church is hurtful; 5) how to get through trauma/pain which is interfering with your relationship with God and ability to access your spirituality; and 6) advice for LDS couples in mixed-fait...
Episode 451: Marcus Hayden, Gay Latter-day Saint, Leaving on a Mission
September 14, 2021 01:23 - 59 minutes - 81.5 MBMy friend Marcus Hayden, age 19 and preparing for a mission, shares his story as a gay Latter-day Saint. Marcus starts with the excellent talk he gave in his BYU YSA Ward this summer based on Elder Gong’s talk “Room in the Inn” (https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/04/16gong?lang=eng). Marcus does a great job of taking the principles from Elder Gong’s talk and applying them in real-life situations in our congregations. Marcus then shares his story coming out ...
Episode 450: Liv Mendoza Haynes, Queer Latter-day Saint
September 12, 2021 03:58 - 1 hour - 108 MBMy friend Liv Mendoza Haynes, who spoke with the Relief Society General Presidency at BYU Women’s Conference, shares her story. Liv (who is a convert, RM, Lawyer, Young Woman’s President and expectant mother), shares her journey which included coming out as queer church-wide at Women’s Conference in April 2021 as part of the Relief Society goal to help everyone belong (see https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-29/byu-womens-conference-relief-society-a-safe-place-belo...
Episode 449: Colette Dalton, Gay Latter-day Saint, LCSW
September 10, 2021 03:21 - 1 hour - 90.8 MBMy friend Colette Dalton (Masters of Social Work from BYU, worked for the Church, now therapist at Symmentry Solutions) share her journey as a gay/queer Latter-day Saints. Colette shares her journey to understand her sexual orientation, navigating being queer and a Church employee and her work as a therapist. If you are a queer women or parent of a queer daughter, Colette’s insights will help you. And if you are someone who wants to better understand queer Latter-day Saints to help them...
Episode 448: Kendall Harward, Gay Latter-day Saint
September 07, 2021 14:12 - 1 hour - 101 MBMy friend Kendall Harward (Ghana, West Africa RM) bravely shares his story. Kendall talks about life before his mission pushing down this aspect of his essence, talking to his Bishop, and going on his mission believing feelings of being gay was a phase that ended. Kendall bravely talks about realizing being gay was still part of him during his mission and how he navigated the complexity of his situation including overwhelming shame for his feelings. Kendall talks about returning home hop...
Episode 447: Stuart Barrett, RM, Church Discipline, Active Latter-day Saints
September 04, 2021 04:54 - 1 hour - 92 MBMy friend Stuart Barrett (RM from Nebraska, age 26) bravely shared his experience being disfellowshipped in a Facebook post (see https://www.facebook.com/1344601875/posts/10225731849786709/) and returned to full Church activity. Stuart talks about why he is open about this chapter of his life, why he is a better person for going through the process, efforts to reduce shame and desire to give hope to others. If you want to go through the repentance process or help others, please listen ...
Episode 446: Devan Jensen, Latter-day Saint Media and Publishing Association
September 01, 2021 04:46 - 48 minutes - 66.1 MBMy friend Devan Jensen, president of the Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association (ldspma.org), joins us to introduce the organization and invite listeners to their upcoming conference at BYU October 7-9, 2021. The association is for Latter-day Saints in publishing or media or independently sharing content through blogs, podcasts, or social media (membership is free). Those who join can network or find resources to help efforts to reach a wider audience (such as writing a book, devel...
Episode 445: Richard Ostler Update
August 29, 2021 03:22 - 1 hour - 103 MBIn this solo episode following the events at BYU on August 23rd, I share thoughts for my LGBTQ Latter-day Saints friends, thoughts about my friend Matt Easton, thoughts for fellow Latter-day Saints who are LGBTQ allies, thoughts for local leaders wanting to talk about supporting LGBTQ Latter-day Saints in their local areas, and insights for those in a faith crisis who want to stay in the Church. In the podcast I reference a Questions from the Closet episode (https://podcasts.apple.com/us...
Episode 444: Mindi Holmgren (husband Corey died), Justin Holmgren (brother Corey died)
August 28, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 135 MBMy friend Mindi Holmgren and Justin Holmgren join us to share about the sudden death of their husband/brother at age 35. Corey, who drowned in the community swimming pool on January 19th 2019, was a Military Chaplain and LMFT working at Lifestar in Murray, Utah who helped hundreds during his lifetime. Mindi and Corey are the parents of four—with their last child born 6 weeks after Corey’s death. Mindi and Justin share about Corey’s life work (which one of Corey’s clients, Tate LeBaron ...
Episode 443: Dr Ryan Anderson, Abusive Relationship
August 25, 2021 04:17 - 1 hour - 97.3 MBMy friend Ryan Anderson (LDS married father of 4, Ph.D. in Medical Family Therapy from East Carolina University) talks about helping those in abusive relationships and also tools to help local Church leaders better meet the needs of those who bravely open up about being victims of abuse. Ryan offers this free webinar https://academy.cedarfort.com/course/religion-and-abuse. Ryan has a book from Cedar Fort on this subject coming out in Q1 2022. If you are in an abusive relationship, want t...
Episode 442: Noah Hanson, Age 23, RM, Gay Latter-day Saint, Patriots fan
August 22, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 99.7 MBMy friend @noah7hanson on IG shares his journey as a gay Latter-day Saint. Noah talks about life in High School, and his successful mission (came out to Heavenly Father at the end of his mission). Noah also talks about dating women, getting engaged, and then receiving strong personal revelation to end that engagement and come out to his now ex-fiancé as gay. That put Noah in a very difficult and dark space. Noah eventually felt his best path forward was to date men and stay in the Church. ...
Episode 441: Kim Siever, Age 48, Married Father of Six, Active LDS, Queer
August 19, 2021 06:16 - 1 hour - 89 MBMy friend Kim Siever zooms us from Lethbridge, Alberta, to share his story. Kim, who is Canadian, served a mission in Utah and is now an independent journalist. He tells us his lifelong journey to understand his sexual orientation after being convinced for over 40 years that he was straight. He also shares how the Spirt helped him understand this part of him, and he came out as queer to his wife, family, and friends only last year. Kim came out to his Latter-day Saint congregation during...
Episode 440: Truman Whitney and Brae Beck, Same-Sex Marriage, Staying Connected to the Church
August 16, 2021 06:08 - 1 hour - 150 MBMy friends Truman (Toronto Canada RM, JD from Harvard Law School) and Brae (New Mexico RM, MHR/MBA from Utah State) join us to share their story as gay Latter-day Saints. Brae and Truman talk about growing up knowing they were gay, serving missions, coming out and eventually starting to date men. Truman talks about having his church membership withdrawn by the Church in March 2020. Brae is still a member. They both talk about their plans to continue attending Church and participate as much a...
Episode 439: Geoffrey Pears, Gay Latter-day Saint, PhD candidate at Rice, Sunday School Talk
August 13, 2021 05:43 - 1 hour - 96.1 MBMy friend Geoffrey Pears (Masters in Accounting from BYU, RM from the Philippines) joins us to share the talk he gave in his YSA Ward in Houston about his journey as a gay Latter-day Saint. It is a deeply moving, honest and vulnerable talk. Geoffrey does a great job taking us into the life of a gay member of the Church. I am glad that his Bishop and ward leadership helped to create Zion by asking Geoffrey to give this powerful talk. You can listen to Geoffrey’s talk here: https://www.yo...
Episode 438: Jordan Jackson, LGBTQUT.com
August 10, 2021 16:09 - 36 minutes - 50.4 MBMy friend Jordan Jackson (who shared his story in episode 246) joins us to talk about his new LGBTQ resource guide, LGBTQUT.com. Jordan talks about how the guide helps connect LGBTQ individuals, parents with LGBTQ children, and allies to resources in Utah—something Jordan wishes he had 4 years ago when we came out. Please listen to this podcast and check out LGBTQUT.com. Thank you Jordan for being on the podcast and all the good you do to bring us together.
Episode 437: Devin Wilde, Age 21, RM, Gay Latter-Day Saint
August 07, 2021 08:03 - 1 hour - 106 MBMy friend Devin Wilde (Scotland Ireland RM, SLC Native) bravely shares his story as a gay Latter-day Saint. Devin talks about growing up knowing he was gay from a very young age. Devin also talks about his mental health and pornography use during his pre-mission years and how he stop pornography use after a visit with his Bishop. Devin talks about his mission and then leaving his mission after about 17 months and returning home because of infield transgressions. He talks about the desp...
Episode 436: Kurt Nielsen, Gay Latter-day Saints, Creating Zion
August 04, 2021 17:05 - 1 hour - 95 MBMy friend Kurt Nielsen (who was episode 147) updates us on his journey and insights as a gay Latter-day Saint. Kurt, who is active in the Church, shares insights on what we can do to better create Zion by seeing and involving our LGBTQ members. Kurt also talks about the need to belong and how some considering separating themselves from the Church are not having a belief crisis but a belonging crisis. Kurt is very good with words and stories from his own life to help us better understan...
Episode 435: Will Sintyl, Age 18, Bisexual Latter-day Saint
August 01, 2021 01:55 - 47 minutes - 64.7 MBMy friend Will Sintyl, who grew up in Haiti and has lived in Utah for the last 4 years, shares his story. Will, who recently graduated from High School, shares coming out to family and friends as bisexual. Will talks about knowing he was bisexual for many years, why he needed to come out and his hopes for the future. Will also talks about how his relationship with the Church is even stronger since coming out. You can find Will on Instagram @will_sintyl Thanks for being on the podc...
Episode 434: Mason Dimond (Early Release Missionary) and Luke Davenport (Service Missionary)
July 29, 2021 05:52 - 1 hour - 84.3 MBOur good family friends Mason Dimond and Luke Davenport join us to share their stories. Luke updates us on his service mission that ends in late July—thank you for your service Elder Davenport! Please listen to Episode 228 for more of Luke’s story. Mason, in one of the bravest moments on our podcast, shares what led him to come home from his mission after 5 weeks. Mason, who left for his mission in July 2019, talks about being at the Mexico MTC and his emotional health deteriorating t...
Episode 433: Blake Hogge, Noted Wedding Photographer, RM, Gay Latter-Day Saint,
July 26, 2021 04:55 - 1 hour - 89.1 MBMy friend Blake Hogge shares his story as a gay Latter-day Saint. Blake shares knowing his was “different” before his successful mission to Tampa, Florida (Haitian Creole), decided to stop dating women, developing his very successful wedding photographer business (check out @blakehogge on IG), coming out to friends and family, starting to date men, and staying close to his Heavenly Father. Blake has a remarkable story that helps all of us better understand and support each other—and keep ...
Episode 432: Calvin Smith, RM, BYU Grad, Gay, Active LDS, Plans to Marry a Man and Attend Church
July 23, 2021 06:31 - 1 hour - 109 MBMy friend Calvin Smith (RM from Mozambique and Swaziland, BYU Grad in Teaching Social Sciences) bravely shares his story as a gay Latter-Day Saint. Calvin talks about his younger years, great mission experience, realizing marrying a woman isn’t going to be possible, becoming suicidal with the complexities of his situation, good family and friends, and finding hope and healing. Calvin talks about dating men and has great insights for others on this road. He also talks about his excelle...
Episode 431: Raini Stock, RM, Faith Crisis, Mental Health, Garments, Returning to Church
July 20, 2021 02:06 - 1 hour - 95.4 MBMy friend Raini Stock (RM from Colorado Springs and getting her Master’s in school counseling from Idaho State University), shares her journey to stay a member of our Church. Raini shares the challenges she faced after her mission while at school at BYU-Idaho and not fitting in or feeling a sense of belong at times in our Church. Raini shares being uncomfortable about garment wearing (not from a religious issues, but a practical challenge) and also her mental health challenges. Raini...
Episode 430: Lincoln Bagley, RM, Home for Worthiness, Faith Crisis, Back Out, Finished Strong
July 17, 2021 02:00 - 1 hour - 96.7 MBMy friend Lincoln Bagley bravely shares his unique mission (Peru, home for a year, Utah, Peru and Colorado) which covered three years from his call to returning home in May 2021. Lincoln talks about being sent home from his mission because of prior worthiness and a difficult experience his Mission President, feeling his was going to leave the church because “could not measure up”, being home for a year where he grieved and then healed, serving again about being assigned to Utah where he ...
Episode 429: Dr. Christy Kane, Author: Fractured Souls and Splintered Memories
July 14, 2021 03:00 - 51 minutes - 70.6 MBMy friend, Dr. Christy Kane who has a PhD in clinical psychology, joins us to talk about her new book Fractured Souls and Splintered Memories: Unlocking the Boxes of Trauma (https://www.amazon.com/Fractured-Souls-Splintered-Memories-Unlocking/dp/1462140327). Dr Kane’s book and clinical practice is focused on improving our mental health including identifying and working through trauma. In the podcast, Dr. Kane talks about why therapy is important, how we can talk about mental health in a...
Episode 428: Loren (Queer) and Anne Brown (Straight/Demisexual), Married Latter-day Saint Couple
July 11, 2021 11:42 - 1 hour - 99.8 MBMy friends Loren (PhD in Counseling Psychology from BYU) and Anne (Master in Marriage and Family Therapy from BYU) share their story. Loren, who knew he was not straight from an early age, shares his journey of self-discovery and understanding and why he identifies as Queer—a recent development—and the personal revelation that led him to accepting that label for himself. Loren and Anne also discuss falling in love and their decision to get married and Loren being open about his orientation...
Episode 427: Blaire Ostler, Author Queer Mormon Theology
July 08, 2021 07:33 - 1 hour - 103 MBMy friend Blaire Ostler joins us to talk about her new book called Queer Mormon Theology (https://www.amazon.com/Queer-Mormon-Theology-Blaire-Ostler/dp/1948218410). Blaire has wonderful insights into how to understand, see and support Queer Latter-day Saints. One of my favorite sections is 15 ways to be more inclusive for our queer friends. Thank you Blare for being on the podcast and all your good work to bring us together. You can check out Blaire’s other podcasts on our platform at 3...
Episode 426: Dashiell Miner, BYU Student, RM, Seeing God’s Children at San Quentin Prison
July 01, 2021 14:47 - 1 hour - 109 MBMy friend Dashiell Miner joins us to better see and love all of God’s children. Dashiell, who is at BYU studying microbiology working towards being medical doctor in oncology, shares four topics: 1) Surviving brain surgery at age 9 and having a life-long hearing disability. Dashiell talks about how this shaped his life to have more empathy and understanding for others 2) Dashiell’s talk in this Ward about serving at San Quentin State Prison and getting to know Tommy, sharing deeply sp...
Episode 425: Chauncy Brinton, Married Father of Two, Gay Latter-day Saint.
June 28, 2021 06:12 - 1 hour - 126 MBMy friend Chauncy Brinton (in his early 40’s, Army Psychologist, Doctorate from James Madison University) bravely and vulnerably shares his journey so he can help others. Chauncy talks about unwanted sexual behaviors—compulsive masturbation and gay pornography use—and why this happened in his life and his path to healing. Now in his 40’s, Chauncy has connected many of the dots to understand why this came into his life and how to move beyond unwanted sexual behaviors. Chauncy helps us u...
Episode 424: Bryce Johnson, Age 29, RM, Gay Latter-day Saint
June 25, 2021 12:06 - 1 hour - 91.6 MBMy friend Bryce Johnson joins us to share his story. Bryce is an active Latter-day Saint and is honest that he doesn’t know exactly his future. He shares he could marry a man or marry a woman—and is looking for is people in his life that love, support and accept him. That are not telling him how to live his life—but walking with him in his journey. Bryce shares coming out to his parents at age 12, serving a mission, and life after his mission. Bryce talks about difficult and positive c...
Episode 423: Karim Lazarus, Convert, Gay, Out of the Church for 15+ Years, Returned in 2020
June 22, 2021 02:00 - 1 hour - 118 MBMy friend Karim Lazarus (age 50, living in Baltimore) vulnerably shares his life story. Karim shares growing up in a single-parent home, being sexually abused (which he shares did not make him gay), finding his home in a military high school in Virginia and attending the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs where he joined the Church. That led to Karim, after one year in the Church, courageously serving a mission in the France Bordeaux Mission under President Neil L. Anderson which was a gr...
Episode 422: Tate LeBaron, Married Father of Three, Nearly Died by Suicide, Solving Porn
June 19, 2021 08:31 - 1 hour - 102 MBMy friend Tate LeBaron (active LDS, in his late 20s) shares the day four years ago when he almost died by suicide and what helped him out of that hopeless and dark place. Tate starts the podcast by reading a Facebook post from May 2021 (https://www.facebook.com/tate.lebaron/posts/10159058075777432). Tate also bravely shares about this battle with pornography and how that came into his life and what steps he took to remove it from his life. If you are working to solve porn, feel y...
Episode 422: Tate LeBaron, Married Father of Three, Nearly Died by Suicide, Solving Porn
June 19, 2021 08:31 - 1 hour - 102 MBMy friend Tate LeBaron (active LDS, in his late 20s) shares the day four years ago when he almost died by suicide and what helped him out of that hopeless and dark place. Tate starts the podcast by reading a Facebook post from May 2021 (https://www.facebook.com/tate.lebaron/posts/10159058075777432). Tate also bravely shares about this battle with pornography and how that came into his life and what steps he took to remove it from his life. If you are working to solve porn, feel you h...
Episode 421: Daryl Austin, Latter-Day Saint, Noted Writer
June 16, 2021 04:31 - 1 hour - 94.5 MBMy friend Daryl Austin is a journalist based in Utah. His work has appeared in National Geographic, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Psychology Today and The New York Times. On the podcast, Daryl talks about several of his articles to help us better understand social issues, reduce divisiveness and the reasons to celebrate our differences. Here are links to the articles discussed: Deseret News: www.deseret.com/opinion/2021/5/28/22457992/disneys-wokeness-beats-wickedness-conserv...
Episode 420: Josh Pedersen, Gay, Author “OUT, NOT IN!”
June 14, 2021 03:14 - 1 hour - 97.3 MBMy friend Josh Pedersen, who came out as gay at 21 following his successful LDS mission in England, talks about his Kickstarter where you can pre-order his new booked called “OUT, NOT IN!” Josh, who is a full time Professor of Design, wrote the book to help LGBTQ people struggling to find their voice come out, and also to their families and close friends to gain a more empathetic understanding. It is a reminder that LOVE - between parent and child, best friends, and family friends is the gre...
Episode 419: Drew Young, LDS Author, New Book
June 12, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 84.4 MBMy friend Drew Young (who was on episodes 276 and 325) joins us to talk about his new book called “Stand Guard at the Door of Your Mind” which is available for pre-order at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Stand-Guard-Door-Your-Mind/dp/B0933GP1RY/). In the book Drew discusses many topics including suicide, porn, mental heath and bullying. In our podcast Drew opens up and enduring multi years of bullying and the pain this created in his life. Drew invites us a parents and local leaders to teac...
Episode 418: Bree and Kit, Married LDS Couple of 40+ Years, Bree’s Gender Incongruence
June 09, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 120 MBMy friends Bree and Kit share their story as a couple with Bree’s gender incongruence/gender dysphoria. Bree talks about the shame, guilt and fear of 40+ years dealing with this and then eventually coming out to Kit. Kit and Bree talk about how their marriage is now even stronger and how they are moving forward. Bree talks about what it is like to deal with gender incongruence and the relief, healing of being more authentic. Bree talks about remaining an active Latter-day Saint and a r...
Episode 417: Dallas Campbell, RM, Age 21, Gay Latter-day Saint
June 06, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 116 MBMy friend Dallas Campbell shares his story as a gay Latter-day Saint. I became aware of Dallas from his moving Instagram coming out post www.instagram.com/tv/CNTnG5thfbW Dallas talks about knowing he is gay from a young age, some difficult times in high school, serving a wonderful mission in Guatemala, testimony of the Gospel, trying to date women, and receiving personal revelation he needed to come out. Dallas talks about what helped him to finally come out; the great support he is r...