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Clarissa Winter is a direct descendant of Brigham Young (on her father’s side) and a Guatemalan Mormon convert (on her mother’s side). Clarissa was raised in Orderville, Utah as a devout Mormon, but during her teenage years began to “fall away” from orthodox Mormonism as she explored her own sexuality and struggled with anxiety, depression, and suicidality. After being labeled by her Mormon peers with terms like “bad,” “slut,” “crazy,” “whore,” “unworthy” - and after being threatened with excommunication by two Mormon bishops for sexual exploration - Clarissa left Mormonism and spent many years as a young adult trying to heal from her Mormon upbringing, and develop her own sense of self-worth and self-empowerment. Today’s episode is about rising strong as an ex-Mormon adult after being deemed “unworthy” and experiencing rejection from one’s conservative Mormon community. Clarissa is also a model, a big fan of scary movies, and does scary movie-themed boudoir shoots. You can find her Instagram account at call

Clarissa Winter is a direct descendant of Brigham Young (on her father’s side) and a Guatemalan Mormon convert (on her mother’s side). Clarissa was raised in Orderville, Utah as a devout Mormon, but during her teenage years began to “fall away” from orthodox Mormonism as she explored her own sexuality and struggled with anxiety, depression, and suicidality. After being labeled by her Mormon peers with terms like “bad,” “slut,” “crazy,” “whore,” “unworthy” - and after being threatened with excommunication by two Mormon bishops for sexual exploration - Clarissa left Mormonism and spent many years as a young adult trying to heal from her Mormon upbringing, and develop her own sense of self-worth and self-empowerment. Today’s episode is about rising strong as an ex-Mormon adult after being deemed “unworthy” and experiencing rejection from one’s conservative Mormon community. Clarissa is also a model, a big fan of scary movies, and does scary movie-themed boudoir shoots. You can find her Instagram account at call

Given the high demand for coaching support right now and the cash crunch being felt by everyone, I am putting together two weekly online Mormon faith transition support groups: one for individuals, and one for couples. I am limiting the individual group to 8 people, and the couples group to 4 couples. There are three main benefits to support groups: 1) They are more effective, mostly because you get input/support/ideas/motivation from an entire group. 2) They last longer (1.5 hours/week instead of 1 hour/week). 3) They are cheaper. Topics for these groups will include: - Navigating a faith crisis. - Navigating relationships with believing family and friends. - Improving mental health. - Improving marriage/relationships. - Parenting. - Building a new, healthy life after a faith crisis. - Whatever else folks want/need. I have a Ph.D. in clinical and counseling psychology with 6 years of training in group therapy - and will be moderating these support groups. Margi may join us from time to time, depending on to

For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Ryan Nielsen and Holly Parson Nielsen, who were both raised as devout Mormons in Rexburg, Idaho. After marriage, Ryan worked as full-time BYU-Idaho faculty for twelve years in the Department of Music, while Holly taught middle school art. Important themes for this episode include: Ryan's perfectionism and guilt/shame as a Mormon youth. Holly's closeted feminism as a Mormon youth and adult. Holly and Ryan learning to listen to their own inner voices, which also involved navigating a religious faith crisis. Navigating BYU-Idaho while one is full time faculty, and in a mixed-faith marriage. This story includes harassment from bishopric over maintaining continuing faculty endorsement (mostly related to Holly’s resignation from the Mormon church. An insider’s view of BYU-Idaho administration, including difficulties dealing with BYU-Idaho executives related to Title IX issues (e.g., sexual misconduct of Mormon ecclesiastical leaders towards BYU-Idaho students

For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Ryan Nielsen and Holly Parson Nielsen, who were both raised as devout Mormons in Rexburg, Idaho. After marriage, Ryan worked as full-time BYU-Idaho faculty for twelve years in the Department of Music, while Holly taught middle school art. Important themes for this episode include: Ryan's perfectionism and guilt/shame as a Mormon youth. Holly's closeted feminism as a Mormon youth and adult. Holly and Ryan learning to listen to their own inner voices, which also involved navigating a religious faith crisis. Navigating BYU-Idaho while one is full time faculty, and in a mixed-faith marriage. This story includes harassment from bishopric over maintaining continuing faculty endorsement (mostly related to Holly’s resignation from the Mormon church. An insider’s view of BYU-Idaho administration, including difficulties dealing with BYU-Idaho executives related to Title IX issues (e.g., sexual misconduct of Mormon ecclesiastical leaders towards BYU-Idaho students

For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Ryan Nielsen and Holly Parson Nielsen, who were both raised as devout Mormons in Rexburg, Idaho. After marriage, Ryan worked as full-time BYU-Idaho faculty for twelve years in the Department of Music, while Holly taught middle school art. Important themes for this episode include: Ryan's perfectionism and guilt/shame as a Mormon youth. Holly's closeted feminism as a Mormon youth and adult. Holly and Ryan learning to listen to their own inner voices, which also involved navigating a religious faith crisis. Navigating BYU-Idaho while one is full time faculty, and in a mixed-faith marriage. This story includes harassment from bishopric over maintaining continuing faculty endorsement (mostly related to Holly’s resignation from the Mormon church. An insider’s view of BYU-Idaho administration, including difficulties dealing with BYU-Idaho executives related to Title IX issues (e.g., sexual misconduct of Mormon ecclesiastical leaders towards BYU-Idaho students

For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Ryan Nielsen and Holly Parson Nielsen, who were both raised as devout Mormons in Rexburg, Idaho. After marriage, Ryan worked as full-time BYU-Idaho faculty for twelve years in the Department of Music, while Holly taught middle school art. Important themes for this episode include: Ryan's perfectionism and guilt/shame as a Mormon youth. Holly's closeted feminism as a Mormon youth and adult. Holly and Ryan learning to listen to their own inner voices, which also involved navigating a religious faith crisis. Navigating BYU-Idaho while one is full time faculty, and in a mixed-faith marriage. This story includes harassment from bishopric over maintaining continuing faculty endorsement (mostly related to Holly’s resignation from the Mormon church. An insider’s view of BYU-Idaho administration, including difficulties dealing with BYU-Idaho executives related to Title IX issues (e.g., sexual misconduct of Mormon ecclesiastical leaders towards BYU-Idaho students

For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Ryan Nielsen and Holly Parson Nielsen, who were both raised as devout Mormons in Rexburg, Idaho. After marriage, Ryan worked as full-time BYU-Idaho faculty for twelve years in the Department of Music, while Holly taught middle school art. Important themes for this episode include: Ryan's perfectionism and guilt/shame as a Mormon youth. Holly's closeted feminism as a Mormon youth and adult. Holly and Ryan learning to listen to their own inner voices, which also involved navigating a religious faith crisis. Navigating BYU-Idaho while one is full time faculty, and in a mixed-faith marriage. This story includes harassment from bishopric over maintaining continuing faculty endorsement (mostly related to Holly’s resignation from the Mormon church. An insider’s view of BYU-Idaho administration, including difficulties dealing with BYU-Idaho executives related to Title IX issues (e.g., sexual misconduct of Mormon ecclesiastical leaders towards BYU-Idaho students

For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Ryan Nielsen and Holly Parson Nielsen, who were both raised as devout Mormons in Rexburg, Idaho. After marriage, Ryan worked as full-time BYU-Idaho faculty for twelve years in the Department of Music, while Holly taught middle school art. Important themes for this episode include: Ryan's perfectionism and guilt/shame as a Mormon youth. Holly's closeted feminism as a Mormon youth and adult. Holly and Ryan learning to listen to their own inner voices, which also involved navigating a religious faith crisis. Navigating BYU-Idaho while one is full time faculty, and in a mixed-faith marriage. This story includes harassment from bishopric over maintaining continuing faculty endorsement (mostly related to Holly’s resignation from the Mormon church. An insider’s view of BYU-Idaho administration, including difficulties dealing with BYU-Idaho executives related to Title IX issues (e.g., sexual misconduct of Mormon ecclesiastical leaders towards BYU-Idaho students

For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Ryan Nielsen and Holly Parson Nielsen, who were both raised as devout Mormons in Rexburg, Idaho. After marriage, Ryan worked as full-time BYU-Idaho faculty for twelve years in the Department of Music, while Holly taught middle school art. Important themes for this episode include: Ryan's perfectionism and guilt/shame as a Mormon youth. Holly's closeted feminism as a Mormon youth and adult. Holly and Ryan learning to listen to their own inner voices, which also involved navigating a religious faith crisis. Navigating BYU-Idaho while one is full time faculty, and in a mixed-faith marriage. This story includes harassment from bishopric over maintaining continuing faculty endorsement (mostly related to Holly’s resignation from the Mormon church. An insider’s view of BYU-Idaho administration, including difficulties dealing with BYU-Idaho executives related to Title IX issues (e.g., sexual misconduct of Mormon ecclesiastical leaders towards BYU-Idaho students

The “THRIVING after Mormonism” project is an effort to profile thriving post-Mormons and progressive Mormons with the intent of providing tips, tricks, inspiration, and hope to those who are questioning and/or leaving Mormonism. If you are a newly questioning/doubting Mormon, we want you to know know that: - You are not crazy. - You are not alone. - You should not be afraid to doubt/question Mormonism. - You CAN find healing, joy, and growth beyond orthodox Mormonism. It is also a way for you to “bear testimony” of your truths and life choices as they stand today. WHO: I am looking for a set of 100 post-Mormons and progressive Mormons to interview on Mormon Stories Podcast who would consider themselves to be thriving after leaving Mormonism (or Mormon orthodoxy). Not flawless….not perfect…..just thriving. When I say thriving, I mean overall healthier and happier than when you were active in the church. HOW: I have put together 20 questions for THRIVING post-Mormons and progressive Mormons to reflect upon, an

Periodically on Mormon Stories Podcast I try to interview “normal” or everyday Mormons about their faith journey – and in every case these “normal” Mormons turn out to be extraordinarily thoughtful and courageous. Today’s interview is no exception to this rule. Today on Mormon Stories podcast I am interviewing Kalin Orgill Organ. Aside from Kalin being a super thoughtful and courageous human, Kalin’s story includes several important themes in modern Mormonism: Kalin was raised in an orthodox Mormon home in California and in Highland, Utah – with seven siblings. She was sexually abused as a child, which possibly awakened her to her own sexuality early than other children. She began masturbating as a girl, before she even knew what the term meant.  This instigated a multi-year effort between herself, her parents, and her Mormon bishop to try to stop the behavior, and to become “worthy” in God’s eyes. Kalin “lost her virginity” as a Mormon teen, which, along with her inability to stop masturbating, only made he

Periodically on Mormon Stories Podcast I try to interview “normal” or everyday Mormons about their faith journey – and in every case these “normal” Mormons turn out to be extraordinarily thoughtful and courageous. Today’s interview is no exception to this rule. Today on Mormon Stories podcast I am interviewing Kalin Orgill Organ. Aside from Kalin being a super thoughtful and courageous human, Kalin’s story includes several important themes in modern Mormonism: Kalin was raised in an orthodox Mormon home in California and in Highland, Utah – with seven siblings. She was sexually abused as a child, which possibly awakened her to her own sexuality early than other children. She began masturbating as a girl, before she even knew what the term meant.  This instigated a multi-year effort between herself, her parents, and her Mormon bishop to try to stop the behavior, and to become “worthy” in God’s eyes. Kalin “lost her virginity” as a Mormon teen, which, along with her inability to stop masturbating, only made he

Periodically on Mormon Stories Podcast I try to interview “normal” or everyday Mormons about their faith journey – and in every case these “normal” Mormons turn out to be extraordinarily thoughtful and courageous. Today’s interview is no exception to this rule. Today on Mormon Stories podcast I am interviewing Kalin Orgill Organ. Aside from Kalin being a super thoughtful and courageous human, Kalin’s story includes several important themes in modern Mormonism: Kalin was raised in an orthodox Mormon home in California and in Highland, Utah – with seven siblings. She was sexually abused as a child, which possibly awakened her to her own sexuality early than other children. She began masturbating as a girl, before she even knew what the term meant.  This instigated a multi-year effort between herself, her parents, and her Mormon bishop to try to stop the behavior, and to become “worthy” in God’s eyes. Kalin “lost her virginity” as a Mormon teen, which, along with her inability to stop masturbating, only made he

Periodically on Mormon Stories Podcast I try to interview “normal” or everyday Mormons about their faith journey – and in every case these “normal” Mormons turn out to be extraordinarily thoughtful and courageous. Today’s interview is no exception to this rule. Today on Mormon Stories podcast I am interviewing Kalin Orgill Organ. Aside from Kalin being a super thoughtful and courageous human, Kalin’s story includes several important themes in modern Mormonism: Kalin was raised in an orthodox Mormon home in California and in Highland, Utah – with seven siblings. She was sexually abused as a child, which possibly awakened her to her own sexuality early than other children. She began masturbating as a girl, before she even knew what the term meant.  This instigated a multi-year effort between herself, her parents, and her Mormon bishop to try to stop the behavior, and to become “worthy” in God’s eyes. Kalin “lost her virginity” as a Mormon teen, which, along with her inability to stop masturbating, only made he

Periodically on Mormon Stories Podcast I try to interview “normal” or everyday Mormons about their faith journey – and in every case these “normal” Mormons turn out to be extraordinarily thoughtful and courageous. Today’s interview is no exception to this rule. Today on Mormon Stories podcast I am interviewing Kalin Orgill Organ. Aside from Kalin being a super thoughtful and courageous human, Kalin’s story includes several important themes in modern Mormonism: Kalin was raised in an orthodox Mormon home in California and in Highland, Utah – with seven siblings. She was sexually abused as a child, which possibly awakened her to her own sexuality early than other children. She began masturbating as a girl, before she even knew what the term meant.  This instigated a multi-year effort between herself, her parents, and her Mormon bishop to try to stop the behavior, and to become “worthy” in God’s eyes. Kalin “lost her virginity” as a Mormon teen, which, along with her inability to stop masturbating, only made he

URGENT! I am currently being flooded by parents and family members of Mormon missionaries, elderly senior missionaries, patriarchs, temple workers, workers at Deseret Industries, etc. about the Mormon church's tragically inadequate response to the COVID-19 / Coronavirus outbreak. It appears as though many church leaders, mission presidents, and missionaries are seeing the Corona virus pandemic as an opportunity to corner people in their homes, with hopes of spreading the gospel. It has also come to my attention that Mormon church patriarchs, temple workers (most of whom also fit into the high risk category), and workers at Deseret Industries are still being asked to travel from home to home to give patriarchal blessings, and/or to show up at the temples or at Deseret Industries to work. Please spread the word so we can help the Mormon church keep its members safe. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Did you ever struggle with your identity as a Mormon? Did you ever feel like who you were inside didn't fit the Mormon mold?  Have you ever been estranged from family over religious differences? Are you suffering with the idea that reconciliation will never happen? Join us now for this epic and inspiring Mormon Stories Podcast episode which covers so many essential topics including: - Faith, family, commitment. - Divorce. Estrangement. - Excommunication and re-baptism. - Faith crisis issues. - Family reconciliation after 17 years of estrangement. These are thoughtful, wise, and inspiring humans - and you will not regret time spent on this episode. It will restore your faith that relationships can be reconciled after estrangement from a faith crisis. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Today on Mormon Stories Podcast we are interviewing Anastasia Bigun.  Anastasia was born in Ukraine.  She and her mother met the Mormon missionaries when she was 10, and she began attending the Mormon church then, though she was not allowed by her father to be baptized until age 18.  After joining the Mormon church, Anastasia moved to the United States at age 21 to attend BYU.  The themes for today’s interview will include: 1) Learning more about living in Ukraine, and Ukraine’s relationship to Russia, 2) what it is like to be Mormon in Ukraine, 3) Anastasia’s own faith journey, and 4) Anastasia’s perspective on the U.S./Ukraine/Russia news stories this year. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Today on Mormon Stories Podcast we are interviewing Anastasia Bigun.  Anastasia was born in Ukraine.  She and her mother met the Mormon missionaries when she was 10, and she began attending the Mormon church then, though she was not allowed by her father to be baptized until age 18.  After joining the Mormon church, Anastasia moved to the United States at age 21 to attend BYU.  The themes for today’s interview will include: 1) Learning more about living in Ukraine, and Ukraine’s relationship to Russia, 2) what it is like to be Mormon in Ukraine, 3) Anastasia’s own faith journey, and 4) Anastasia’s perspective on the U.S./Ukraine/Russia news stories this year. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message