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 369: Carson Perez, Gay Latter-day Saint, Emmas Board Member, Convert
January 01, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 46.5 MBMy friend, Carson Perez, joins us to share his remarkable story. Carson begins by reading his spiritual journey, which includes being raised Pentecostal and embracing the Restored Gospel in July 1996, resigning from the LDS Church a year later, being involved with other faith traditions, including earning his Master of Divinity at Yale Divinity School and nearly becoming an Episcopal priest, and being rebaptized back into the LDS Church in August 2019. He shares his love for his partner, Ale...
Episode 368: Susan Hinckley and Cynthia Winward, Co-Hosts of Podcast “At Last She Said It”
December 30, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 46.4 MBMy dear friends Cynthia Winward and Susan Hinckley join me to talk about their new podcast At Last She Said It (https://atlastshesaidit.org/), a project aimed at amplifying the voices of LDS women, helping them feel valued and heard, and creating a safe space to share their feelings and experiences. Cynthia and Susan are active Latter-day Saint women, and we talk about the goals for their podcast, why they feel it is needed, feedback from their listeners, and ideas for improving women's chu...
Episode 367: Kent Griffiths and Nancy Ayre
December 27, 2020 16:42 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBKent Griffiths and Nancy Ayre, a father/daughter team (and dear friends), join with us to share their valuable experience and insights. Dr. Kent Griffiths earned his Masters and Doctorate of Social Work at the University of Utah and has been a clinical therapist in the Salt Lake area for over 45 years. Nancy Ayre lives in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband and family, and is the mother and bonus mom of six children. She is currently working on her Masters of Social Work at the Universi...
Episode 366: Patrick Mason’s New Book “Restoration: God’s Call to the 21st Century World”
December 25, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 46.8 MBMy friend Patrick Mason (Leonard J. Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University and author of “Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt”) joins us to talk about his new book “Restoration: God’s Call to the 21st Century World” available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Restoration-Gods-Call-21st-Century-World/dp/1953677045. If you want to be inspired about our future, please read this book and listen to this podcast. Here is more about the book: The...
Episode 365: McKay Bryson, BYU Student, Gay Latter-day Saint
December 23, 2020 07:23 - 1 hour - 49.9 MBMy friend McKay Bryson joins us to share his story as a gay Latter-day Saint. I became aware of McKay as he was a guest on Ben Schilaty’s and Charlie Bird’s podcast called “Questions From the Closet”. McKay was on Episode 37 which I encourage all to listen to and share https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-there-a-place-for-me-in-the-church/id1504990147?i=1000501822009 McKay, who served a mission to Thailand and is graduating in Information Systems, shares coming out in May 2019—and...
Episode 364: Ryan Michael Painter, Author, Gay Father Died of AIDS
December 21, 2020 03:34 - 1 hour - 46 MBMy friend Ryan Michael Painter joins us to talk about his new book called “The Unexpected Son” which talks about his gay LDS father Michael, who was the first AIDS death in Utah when Michael was 7, and his LDS mother Patti. The book is at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Son-Ryan-Michael-Painter/dp/1735051209 Michael, in his 40s, talks about his love for both his father and mother (who were divorced shortly after Michael’s birth but remained friends) and how is has found peace ...
Episode 363: Valerie Nicole Green, Transgender Woman, Latter-day Saint
December 19, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBMy friend Valerie Nicole Green shares her 50 year journey with gender dysphoria leading to transitioning over the past few years. Valerie, who is a widow with 5 children and 6 grandchildren, talks about how her local congregation is helping her feel welcome and loved. Valerie is one of the founders and co-chairs of Emmas LGBTQ Ministry (check out: https://www.facebook.com/groups/emmauslgbtq) a place for Latter-day LGBTQ members and allies. If you are transgender or a parent of a transgende...
Episode 362: Laurie Rodriguez and Dr. Mary Wilde (Sisters) LGBTQ Support
December 17, 2020 04:00 - 58 minutes - 40.3 MBLaurie Rodriguez (mother of 3, two of which identify as LGBQ) and Dr. Mary Elizabeth Wilde (integrative pediatrician, mother of 8) talk about how to support LGBTQ family members. These two sisters have unique and powerful insights from different perspectives: Laurie with a direct and personal one as a mother with LGBTQ children, and Mary with a professional/clinical one as a pediatrician who supports families. If you are a parent, friend or local leader and want to better understand the res...
Episode 361: Jake Berry, Child of God, LDS, Cerebral Palsy, LGBTQ
December 15, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 78.8 MBMy friend Jake Berry, Joined by his friend Nic Quilter, shares his life story. Jake starts with having Cerebral Palsy since birth, difficult situations, setbacks, positive experiences and receiving personal revelation. This is the first time I’ve listened to someone with Cerebral Palsy and I learned so much. Jake talks about being inactive until moving to Arizona and being fellowshipped by the missionaries, a dear aunt and wonderful ward members like Nic leading to full activity and a c...
Episode 360: Rebekah Clark, 20+ Year Journey with OCD
December 14, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 45.4 MBMy friend Rebekah Clark (married mother of 3) shares her journey with OCD. Rebekah, in her 30’s, has been walking this road since age 6. Rebekah talks about the many OCDs that are or have been part of her life including checking, scrupulosity, relationship and "just right" OCD. She shares learning about these OCDs, the impact in her life, and working with a therapist to solve them. Rebekah also talks her husband’s wonderful support and how she now looks at her emotional health challenges as a...
Episode 359: Tony Fieldson, LDS Convert, YouTube Channel: The Restoration Table
December 12, 2020 06:50 - 1 hour - 51.4 MBMy friend Tony Fieldson (married father of two, active LDS) joins us to talk about his miraculous conversion story, and of his work to build bridges of understanding between members of the church and critics of the church. His goal is not to convert everyone to the Church or to demonize critics—but to bring us together as the same human family in respectful conversations. Tony is honest about his own mini-faith crisis and why he nevertheless stays a believing and committed Latter-day Saint. ...
Episode 358: Andrea Forsythe, Ministering to the Marginalized
December 11, 2020 06:06 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBMy friend Andrea Forsythe bravely shares her story that includes a mental breakdown (or "break open" as she likes to call it), caused from mental health challenges exacerbated by continuously ‘hustling for worth’ as a woman in the church. Andrea talks about the path to heal from the pain and also how this pain/heartache has brought an awareness and desire to see, validate, and serve marginalized groups in our Church and society. Andrea has powerful insights on how we all can do better. A...
Episode 357: Adam Baker, RM, Age 29, Gay Latter-day Saint
December 10, 2020 01:00 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBMy friend Adam Baker (Masters degree as a Physicians Assistant from Idaho State University)shares his story as a gay Latter-day Saint. Adam talks about life before his successful mission in Wisconsin (including being hyper-religion to overcome being gay), getting a degree at BYU-Idaho, and starting to come out to roommates and family members. Adam talks about learning to accept this part of himself (partly by working with great therapists like Cameron Staley) as a gift from God, eliminating s...
Episode 356: Thomas McConkie, Transformations of Faith Course
December 08, 2020 03:07 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBMy friend Thomas McConkie joins us to talk about his new online course called “Transformations of Faith”—a contemporary expression of timeless Wisdom as understood through the lens of the Restored Gospel. The course was jointly developed by two non-profits: Faith Matters (https://faithmatters.org/) and Lower Lights (https://lowerlightswisdom.org/) In the podcast Thomas explains why he developed the course, who the course is for, the nature of the content, and how it brings hope and healing...
Episode 355: Fiona and Terryl Givens, New Book “All Things New”
December 06, 2020 01:30 - 1 hour - 47.2 MBMy friends Fiona and Terryl join us to introduce their new book “All Things New: Rethinking Sin, Salvation, and Everything in Between”. Fiona and Terryl authored three other books: The God Who Weeps, The Christ Who Heals, and The Crucible of Doubt. This book talks about our beautiful restored doctrine and how to better apply it in our lives to heal our woundedness, have more hopeful view of the future, power of Heavenly Parents whose love is unconditional, and how to better love everyon...
Episode 354: Adam Brulotte, Gay Latter-day Saint Convert, Canadian
December 04, 2020 06:54 - 1 hour - 56.2 MBMy friend Adam Brulotte joins us to share his remarkable story. Adam’s story includes coming out as gay to his parents, his remarkable conversion story to the LDS Church, and then his journey as a gay member of the Church which includes supportive leaders, members and friends. Adam looks at being gay as a gift from God and something neither God or Adam are ashamed of. Adam’s leaders not only listened to and learned from Adam, but put him to work in the Church. Adam has served in many ca...
Episode 353: Al Carraway, Noted LDS Author and Speaker
December 02, 2020 04:13 - 1 hour - 44 MBMy friend Al Carraway joins us from her new home in upstate New York. Al, who was on Episode 114, talks about her new book “Wildly Optimistic” and several recent powerful and vulnerable blog posts. If you want to find hope during difficult times, please listen to this podcast. Al has great insights to help all of us grow closer to our Heavenly Father, better support each other, and find strength during difficult experiences. Al is one of my personal heroes. I encourage everyone to read h...
Episode 352: Jace Ure (Non-Binary Latter-day Saint) and Their Parents
November 28, 2020 02:49 - 1 hour - 47 MBMy friend Jace Ure, age 15, joins us to share their journey as a non-binary Latter-day Saint. Jace is joined by their parents Kerin and Aimee, deeply committed Latter-day Saints, who share how they are supporting Jace—who are new on this road and Jace came out only three months ago. This is a great podcast of “living your religion” when faced with unique family situations—resulting in the Ure family coming together in a beautiful way. It’s really a love story. If you are parents of a LGBT...
Episode 351: Ashley Rankin, RM, Age 25, Divorced
November 26, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBMy friend Ashley Rankin (Registered Nurse) joins us to share her two year marriage that ended in divorce about two years ago. Ashley shares why she felt the marriage was the right decision in the beginning, the progression of how things started to change, and how it ended a few months before their second anniversary. Ashley shares the pain and trauma that resulted from both her marriage and divorce process. She also shares a few lessons she has learned on her road to healing in the two ...
Episode 350: Jordan Stuart, Age 30, Married Father of Three, Faith Crisis
November 23, 2020 01:20 - 1 hour - 47.1 MBEpisode 350: Jordan Stuart, Age 30, Married Father of Three, Faith Crisis by Richard Ostler
Episode 349: Spencer and Emily Tycksen, Pornography
November 21, 2020 08:47 - 1 hour - 54.4 MBEpisode 349: Spencer and Emily Tycksen, Pornography by Richard Ostler
Episode 348: Jon Gossett, Suicide Prevention
November 19, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 58.2 MBMy friend Jon Gossett joins us to talk about his efforts to prevent suicide and the organization he started lifesworthlivingfoundation.net If you are suicidal or want to help others, please listen to this podcast with Jon, check out his organization and his podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lifes-worth-living-foundation-podcast/id1503178918 Thank you for being on the podcast my good friend Jon and you efforts to save lives. You are making a huge difference for good.
Episode 347: Hayden Paul and Bo Buchi, Healing/Pornography
November 17, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 72.8 MBHayden Paul (episode 328 and 340) returns with his former therapist Bo Buchi CMHC to talk about Bo’s clinical expertise to help solve Hayden’s porn use. Bo (active LDS, masters degree, licensed clinical therapist) has great insights to help others solve porn. These two men talk about practical clinical tools and the power of our Savior Jesus Christ to end porn use. To solve porn takes a team effort. Please listen to this podcast to gain additional insights from a clinical therapist t...
Episode 346: Dr. Anthony Sweat, BYU Professor, New Book “Repicturing the Restoration”
November 15, 2020 01:00 - 1 hour - 47.9 MBMy friend Anthony Sweat, artist and associate professor of Church history and doctrine at BYU, joins us to talk about his new book “Repicturing the Restoration”. This wonderful book is twenty-five paintings that portray previously unpictured Restoration scenes, coupled with historical and artistic explanations. It includes The First Visions, Jane Neyman and the First Baptism for the Dead, The Chamber of Father Whitmer, Joseph and William Fight and Forgive, and (my favorite) The Ordinatio...
Episode 345: Dr. Cameron Staley, Solving Pornography
November 13, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBMy friend Cameron Staley (active LDS) is a clinical psychologist living in Idaho helping others with mental health concerns including unwanted pornography viewing. If you want to end unwanted pornography use or better help others, PLEASE listen to this podcast. Cameron has unique research-based insights to help others solve this concern. More on his online self-directed program for pornography can be found here at Life After Pornography (https://www.lifeafterpornography.com/). Please che...
Episode 344: Abby Weidmer, Married Mother of Two, Emotional Health
November 11, 2020 04:08 - 1 hour - 54.1 MBMy friend Abby Weidmer joins us to share her journey with emotional health (relationship OCD and scrupulosity). Abby first dealt with this on her mission about 10 years ago in the Belgium Netherlands mission and then again when she got engaged to her husband Kevin. Abby has learned so much as she faced this head-on and managing it on this difficult road. Abby felt impressed to start a blog to share her story (thesoulofthings.com). Please check it out! You can also contact her about sharin...
Episode 343: The Real OCD Club at BYU
November 10, 2020 01:00 - 1 hour - 52.5 MBMy friends Miranda McQuarrie, Brooke Taylor, Katelyn Garcia and Derek Baker (all BYU students with OCD) join us to talk about their various forms of OCD (including scrupulosity, relationship OCD, harm OCD, pedophilia OCD, sexual orientation OCD, and existential OCD). They are brave and courageous as they share their stories. To help others, they started The Real OCD Club which can be found on Instagram @realocdbyu and Facebook at www.facebook.com/Real-OCD-BYU-111644527368656 You can read ...
Episode 341: Greg and Krista Evans, Wonderful Son Luke Died by Suicide Nov 2019
November 07, 2020 05:56 - 1 hour - 61.2 MBMy dear friend Greg and Krista Evans join to talk about their wonderful son Luke (https://www.hamptongentry.com/obituary/luke-evans). They talk about his brutal journey with his emotional health, how everyone fought to keep him alive, and how his mental illness led to his passing. Greg and Krista are PROUD of Luke as he bravely fought his illness and share more about the accomplished young man. Krista blogs about Luke at https://evansdailygriefing.blogspot.com/. I encourage everyone to ...
Episode 340: Hayden and Savannah Paul, Pornography
November 05, 2020 04:52 - 1 hour - 64.5 MBHayden (episode 328) returns with his dear wife Savannah to talk to other couples working to solve pornography. Savannah has great insights for a partner working to solve pornography including how she handled Hayden's slip-up once they were engaged. Dozen have reached out to Hayden and Savannah since Episode 328, and they started their own podcast to help other couples. Please see www.istandatthedoor.com. If you want to solve pornography in your own life, help someone else, or navig...
Episode 339: Dina Alexander, Teaching Children about Sex and Pornography
November 03, 2020 06:06 - 1 hour - 48.6 MBDina Alexander, noted LDS author and speaker, joins us to talk about her organization called Education and Empower Kids (https://educateempowerkids.org/). Dina talks about the books she has written on how to teach your children about sex and avoiding pornography in healthy and non-shaming ways. Dina has series of books on these topics that are age appropriate with workbooks to help parents have these important discussions. If you are a parent, grandparent or a local leader who wants ...
Episode 338: Sam Bird, Charlie Bird’s Younger Brother, Supporting a LGBTQ Family Member
November 01, 2020 01:45 - 1 hour - 50 MBSam Bird (RM from Bolivia and Columbia, BYU Business Student, age 21) talks about supporting and learning from his older brother Charlie. Sam recounts, on their Mount Kilimanjaro hike, where Charlie came out as gay. Sam shares the story from his perspective—it’s a beautiful story of too close brothers staying close. How nothing changed. Sam shares what he has learned, advice to other family members, insights into Christ’s teaching to ‘Love One Another’, and his love/respect for Charli...
Episode 337: Bryce Larsen, Gay, Age 28, Sydney Australia RM
October 30, 2020 03:00 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBMy friend Bryce Larsen, Utah State grad with career in marketing, shares his journey as a gay Latter-day Saint. Bryce shares his hopes that his mission (which he loved and blessed many) would make him straight. After returning, Bryce released that he is gay and gradually has come to a place of acceptance. Bryce shares his beautiful coming out letter from May 2018 to his family (and how they responded with love and support). Bryce feels his path is to find a life partner and plans to marry a...
Episode 336: Dr. Debra Theobald McClendon, Scrupulosity Q&A
October 28, 2020 01:00 - 1 hour - 53.7 MBDr. Debra Theobald McClendon, a psychologist who specializes in treating those with Religious OCD (Scrupulosity), joins us to answer questions about scrupulosity that were gathered from social media prior to the podcast. This is a great episode to better understand scrupulosity and help others who may be dealing with it—from one of the top experts in the Latter-day Saint community on this topic. In the podcast we talk about some available resources, such as her new online course with 6 ho...
Episode 335: Blaire Ostler, Queer Latter-day Saint and Queer Theorist
October 26, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 54.4 MBMy friend Blaire Ostler (no relation) updated our listeners to help us better understand our bisexual and non binary friends. The first part of the podcast is educational to help us understand the labels people use to describe their identities and orientations. Labels matter. And using labels is key to helping our LGBTQ friends feel loved and accepted. The second part of the podcast is Blaire bravely sharing her experiences as a Latter-day Saint—including difficult experiences and some...
Episode 334: Colby Lowe, Gay Latter-Day Saint, Colon Cancer
October 24, 2020 01:00 - 1 hour - 56.6 MBMy friend Colby Lowe (RM, Age 26) share his journey as a gay Latter-day Saint. I became aware of Colby when I read his excellent coming out post on November 29, 2016. Here is a link to that post: https://www.facebook.com/colby.lowe1/posts/10154146718078494. Colby talks about his relationship with the Church (not currently fully participating), his excellent relationship with his Heavenly Father, and his mother Cindy. Colby also talks about his health include colon cancer, lymph node c...
Episode 333: Luke Romney and Madi Hawes, BYU Students, Instagram Account @BYUQ2024
October 22, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 58.4 MBMy friend Luke Romney (gay) and Madi Hawes (ally), both freshman at BYU, share starting an Instagram account supporting BYU queer freshman (who will be the class of 2024). Luke shares his story as a gay Latter-day Saint who grew up in SLC and wants to go to divinity school with a focus on environmental humanities. Madi, who grew up in Tacoma, Washington and wants to be a pediatrician, shares her story to be an ally to this group who walks a difficult road. I was deeply moved and impressed wi...
Episode 332: Reed and Amber Blackburn, Still Born Child Tessa
October 20, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBMy friend Reed and Amber Blackburn share losing their daughter Tessa who was stillborn on May 16, 2018. They learned she was going to be stillborn during a checkup around 35 weeks. Reed and Amber talk openly about the tragedy of losing a child, a few days with Tessa before the funeral, and how they are healing and moving forward on this brutal road. If you have lost a child, want to help someone who has lost a child, or just want to be inspired, please listen to this podcast. Reed (wh...
Episode 331: Doug Cartwright founder of The Daily Shifts, Finding Spirituality & Self Love
October 18, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 50 MBMy long-time friend Doug Cartwright shares his remarkable journey to identity and solve trauma, overcome feelings of being suicidal, finding spirituality, and self-love. Doug is brutally honest about his own story including being survivor of sexual assault, defined by being overweight, an early-release missionary, his Dad’s death, and trying to find happiness through financial success. All this led to a period of time where Doug because suicidal and worked hard to address and resolve diff...
Episode 330: Jake Young, RM Edmonton, LGBTQ Ally
October 15, 2020 23:00 - 1 hour - 64 MBMy friend Jake Young (currently studying Entrepreneurship at BYU), shares reasons why he believes and wants to stay in our Church and things he disagrees with and hopes will change. Jake represents many of our Gen Z members with a world view on fairness, equality and reaching out those on the margins—and see where their faith communities sometimes stumble in these areas. Jake is deeply spiritual and student of the scriptures and is serious about his spiritual journey and loving everyone...
Episode 329: Hayden and Sydney Anderson, Married BYU Students
October 14, 2020 01:00 - 46 minutes - 37.3 MBMy friend Hayden and Sydney join us to share their feelings about helping and serving marginalized groups of people. Hayden, who had Ben Schilaty as his EFY counselor and is now taking his BYU class, shares his journey to better support LGBTQ Latter-day Saints. Hayden and Sydney have wonderful insights into how we can improve our culture to help everyone feel more welcome, valued, and loved. They also talk about Bryan Stevenson’s (author of "Just Mercy") speech at BYU gave them better pr...
Episode 328: Hayden Paul, Solving Pornography
October 11, 2020 20:10 - 1 hour - 67.8 MBMy friend Hayden Paul (age 24, married, United States Marine) shares his story with pornography. Hayden, who started viewing porn at age 13, shares using daily before his mission, being free from pornography during his mission to Budapest Hungry, but then relapsing soon after his mission. Hayden’s YSA Stake President, Jordan Clements, developed a ‘modified addiction recovery’ which was key to ending Hayden’s porn use. Hayden spoke in his YSA Stake Conference about this topic and each...
Episode 327: Valerie Payne, LDS, Therapist, Podcaster, Child of God
October 10, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 50.9 MBMy friend Valerie Payne (RM from Peru, Masters in Social Work from BYU) joins us to talk about ‘finding unity through seeking understanding, connection, healing, and love’. Valerie is practicing this in her life with her podcast ( https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/finding-unity/id1498082517) and her private clinical practice (https://www.valeriepaynetherapy.com/). Please check out and follow Valerie on Instagram at @finding.unity Thank you Valerie for being on the podcast and all your g...
Episode 326: Braden Orgill, Dear Friend, Once Suicidal
October 08, 2020 02:19 - 1 hour - 57.8 MBMy long-time friend Braden Orgill (Active LDS, RM, Age 26, Married) shares what led up to him considering suicide, self harming, and how he was able to pull himself out of that dark space---which started with a conversation with a mutual friend Doug Cartwright. Braden, who is now a Keto Lifestyle Coach (check out https://ketowithbraden.com/), had great insights into ‘you are enough’, ‘own your own story’ and ‘finding peace and joy now’. Braden also shares falling in love with his wife ...
Episode 325: Drew Young, LDS Author, Pornography
October 03, 2020 04:18 - 1 hour - 48.7 MBMy friend Drew Young, author of “The Meaning of Your Mission” (amazon.com/Meaning-Your-Mission-Lessons-Principles/dp/1462138063/) which we discuss on Episode 276, joins us to share his experience with pornography based on his brave Facebook post https://www.facebook.com/mrdrewyoung1/posts/2954728144653099. I deeply admire and respect Drew for openly discussing his experience with pornography. Not only does this help him, but it allows Drew to help so many to remove the shame and stigma of...
Episode 324: Ashley Willis, Mission Call to Poland, Certain Woman IG
October 01, 2020 17:14 - 1 hour - 51.9 MBMy friend Ashely, age 19 and headed on her mission in December to Poland, shares about improving Latter-day Saint culture. To do this, Ashley bravely started @certain.woman on Instagram (please follow this excellent account). Ashley talks about how to improve our culture around better valuing women, better approaches to resolving sexual sin, improved insights into pornography use, kind insights into our LGBTQ members, and creating a loving framework for those working through questions. ...
Episode 323: Parker and Alex Hadley-Hone, Same-Sex Couple, Attend/Feel Welcome in Local LDS Ward
September 29, 2020 00:17 - 1 hour - 71.7 MBMy friends Parker and Alex (RMs from Nova Scotia and SLC/Fiji, respectively) share their journey as gay Latter-Day Saints. Alex and Parker shares coming to terms with their sexual orientation, working through dark chapters, and finding hope through their relationship with Heavenly Parents and the Savior. Alex and Parker found each other about 5 years ago and were married on July 11th, 2020 in Alex’s backyard with Parker’s father Jack officiating (Jack who is active LDS shared his story in ...
Episode 322: Andrew Heath (straight)and Luke Warnock (gay)
September 27, 2020 01:48 - 1 hour - 54.1 MBLuke and Andrew were members of the Corner Canyon State Championship basketball team (2019) during the time that Luke came out as gay (Luke was also the Student Body President). Andrew (who is leaving on his LDS mission in October to Belgium) and Luke (who is dating men and attending the University of Utah) talk about how they continue to be best friends. Nothing change. How they honor and support each other --- even with different feelings on some issues. I talk about Luke and Andrew ...
Episode 321: Mike Gregson, Active LDS, Finding Worth and Value
September 25, 2020 05:12 - 1 hour - 62.6 MBMy friend Mike Gregson bravely shares his life story. Mike, who turns 40 in late 2020, is married and has three kids. Mike shares difficult chapters starting with High School in Salt Lake where Mike went from a key member of the basketball team with good grades, to leaving the basketball team, poor grades, depression, alcohol and marijuana. Mike talks about how reading the Book of Mormon and then prayer changed his life and opened the door to serving a successful mission in Indiana. Mi...
Episode 320: Lynsie Andreasky, Active LDS, Asexual, Aromantic and Gender Queer.
September 23, 2020 01:32 - 44 minutes - 30.8 MBMy friend Lynsie calls in from BYU-Idaho (Lynsie is studying vocal performance at BYU-Idaho and hopes to be in the Tabernacle Choir someday) to share her journey. Lynsie has great insights on her sexual orientation, gender identity and hopes for the future. Lynise, who is also autistic and has a service dog, share insights of her love for our Church. Here is a link to Lynsie’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO8UE1J9dtxFCtdUxQ_7RHA Thanks for being on the podcast ...
Episode 319: Dr. David T. Morgan, Active LDS, Licensed Psychologist, Mental Health
September 20, 2020 23:48 - 1 hour - 56.9 MBMy friend David Morgan, PhD from BYU, shares helping people understand and cope with mental health issues through the lens of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. David has written four books, written dozens of articles for LDS Living and part of virtual fireside with Onward Productions. If you want better tools to manage/solve your own mental health issues or to better help others, please listen to this podcast. David brings his academic experience, 20 years of private practice, and his understand...