Conversion therapy, often imagined as a bygone practice of bunk science, is alive and well– especially in the niches where religious institutions and close-knit communities have enabled it to continue flourishing. This season, we trace the rise, fall, and shifting identity of conversion therapy in a state uniquely positioned in the crosshairs of this practice: Utah.Hosted by activist, legal scholar, feminist, and queer ex-Mormon Kate Kelly, Season 2 of Camp Shame tells the stories of Mormons who’ve undergone conversion therapy, the cultural climate that helped conversion programs survive, and why this shame-fueled ill continues to thrive.
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Latest episodes
Showing 12 · updated from the feed
Episode 2: In Our Lovely Deseret
Mormonism has always had a complicated relationship with America. This episode traces the religion from persecuted frontier movement to powerful Utah institution. From
Nov 10 35 min
Episode 1: It’s Not the Altitude
Conversion therapy, often thought of as a bygone practice or bunk science, is alive and well– especially in the secretive niches where institutions and cultural conversat
Nov 3 33 min
Coming Soon: Camp Shame Season 2
Conversion therapy, often imagined as a bygone practice of bunk science, is alive and well– from church pews to therapists' offices, state capitols to college campuses. B
Oct 27 3 min
Episode 8: Losing Isn't Everything
Camp Shane is back… and as dysfunctional as ever. Kids are running around unsupervised, counselors are dropping out like flies, and medical supervision is pretty much non
Jul 10 2025 49 min
Episode 7: Nobody Believes the Fat Kid
Though Camp Shane is falling apart, kids still love spending their summers there, largely because of the limited parental supervision and endless romantic opportunities.
Jul 3 2025 42 min
Episode 6: When the Sh*t Hits the Fan
By the mid 2010s, things at Camp Shane are going downhill: campers are arriving with serious mental health needs, counselors are stretched thin, and untrained “health exp
Jun 26 2025 36 min
Episode 5: Live, Laugh, Lose
**Audio Updated 7/17/25
What do you get when you mix disordered eating, soap-laced Jell-O, and a diet camp stuck in the past? A summer from hell. In this episode, Kelse
Jun 19 2025 50 min
Episode 4: As Big as it Gets
The new millennium brings new trends, new technologies and new ways to spread toxic beauty standards. And Camp Shane is reaping the benefits. The camp grows to new height
Jun 12 2025 47 min
Episode 3: The Real Heavyweights
Camp Shane is under new leadership: Selma’s son, David Ettenberg. In the 1990s, David’s reign brings with it more campers, more money, and even a Disney movie inspired by
Jun 5 2025 42 min
Episode 2: A Fat Girl's Vision
To understand Camp Shane, we first need to examine the society that created it. America’s obsession with size had evolved over time, creating a demand for a weight loss c
Jun 5 2025 47 min
Episode 1: Welcome to Camp Shane
Welcome to Camp Shane — one of the first weight loss camps for kids. In its 50+ years of operation, Shane was a haven for children who felt discarded by the real world. K
Jun 5 2025 38 min
Introducing: Camp Shame
Camp Shane—one of America’s longest running weight loss camps for kids—promised extraordinary results. Campers who began the summer in heavy bodies were often unrecogniza
Apr 15 2025 2 min
Chart positions
Where Camp Shame ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Nov 11, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
Love this podcast, but I have a couple factual disagreements about the effect of weight on overall health. Yes, it is absolutely true that a fat person who eats well and moves their body is healthier than someone is thin but smokes cigarettes, eats junk food, and doesn’t exercise. Completely 100% agree that thinness does not equate to overall health.
However: stating that healthcare should only value weight in terms of medication dosing is simply not true. Weight is measured every time you go to a doctor’s office to monitor many things, but rapid weight loss and rapid weight gain are genuinely concerning. Changes in weight can be early indicators of disease.
Additionally, and this is true for human bodies regardless of weight, every step you take puts pressure on your knee and hip joints. The force that goes through your knees is 4x greater than your body weight. For hips, it’s 2.6x your body weight. If you are heavier, there is literally more force wearing and tearing on your knees (which are not the most stable joints in general) and hips. That causes all sorts of joint problems in the future.
To say weight doesn’t matter for health is simply not true and even misleading for the general public. Irresponsible to put that out there.
jessie style music · Aug 2026
I fell upon this podcast by accident and was absolutely astonished that this wasn’t a “tale of old” but set to present day. It showed me how much of an echo chamber I’ve been living in since I thought “fat camps” were shamed out of existence decades ago. Well done on shining light on this abhorrent practice that I didn’t even realize it was still a thing.
DrUnguerit · Dec 2025
I am enjoying the content and the alternative perspective to our typical societal norms around health and weight. However, it’s disheartening that this would include an advertisement for a GLP-1 for weight loss. Each episode starts with a trigger warning for the conversation of body image and weight, and then to turnaround and advertise weight loss is jarring and disappointing
luckyyyy · Oct 2025
Loved this one! So informative and great storytelling. Was recommended to listen and as someone in recovery from food, I found this one so good!
Datgoodone · Sep 2025
So I went to Camp Shane when I was a kid. I’m sorry but it was a great experience. There was mental health as well as diet and exercise. I made incredible friends. I was ages 12-16 when I went. I went back as a counselor briefly when I was 19. Yeah it was just a great experience. I’m not sure why they are trying to demonize it.
EmmaSan9 · Feb 2026
It was entertaining to listen to for the same reasons you’d listen to Dateline or watch Teen Mom. The “fat activism” was laughable but tolerable just to hear the story. A bunch of fat Jewish kids getting sent to fat camp? Come on somebody make a comedy series on Netflix about this already. I’ll watch it.
homebirther · Sep 2025
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