Dear Alana,

by Tenderfoot TV

4x nominee and WINNER at the 2024 Ambie Awards. Host Simon Kent Fung explores the life of Alana Chen, a 24-year-old woman who disappeared from Boulder, Colorado in 2019. Alana left behind two dozen journals chronicling a deep faith, love of fashion, and dream of becoming a nun. She also harbored a secret. At 14, she confessed to her priest that she was attracted to women and was instructed not to tell her parents. Over the next seven years, Alana covertly received conversion therapy which her family believes played a role in her fate. Simon, who sought to change his sexual orientation through conversion therapy for nearly a decade in his efforts to become a priest, is compelled to understand the truth of what happened to Alana—and finally face what happened to him. “Dear Alana,” is an unraveling mystery and a poignant spiritual memoir about teenage rebellion and spiritual manipulation, the price we pay to belong and the systems that pay no price at all. ****Named one of the best podcasts of 2023 by Apple, KQED, and Lifehacker, and critically acclaimed by The Guardian, the CBC, and People Magazine. Explore more at www.dearalana.com

Latest episodes

Showing 11 · updated from the feed

Part 8: The Saint

Alana’s mother seeks justice amidst the Church’s denial. Simon confronts his past. And another tragedy befalls the Chen household, destroying almost everything. This

Sep 25 2023
45 min

Part 7: Notre Dame is Burning

Alana’s newfound love separates her from her church. As Notre Dame Cathedral burns, so does her faith. But as her self-acceptance grows, her life takes a tragic turn.

Sep 18 2023
45 min

Bonus 1: Dr. Hillary McBride

Host Simon Kent Fung sits down with trauma therapist Dr. Hillary McBride to delve deeper into the mental health dimensions of Dear Alana. This episode contains reference

Sep 15 2023
23 min

Part 6: DEFILED

Alana enters treatment and comes clean to her family. While still actively seeking Conversion Therapy behind their back, she falls in love. This episode contains refe

Sep 11 2023
40 min

Part 5: Piece of the Pie

Alana starts college and thrives in her new community, which creates conflict with her old friends. Alana is rushed to the ER after a suicide scare. This episode cont

Sep 4 2023
38 min

Part 4: Judo

Through their spiritual mentors, Alana and Simon are introduced to Conversion Therapy. A deep dive into the psychological & theological theories behind this practice.

Aug 28 2023
46 min

Part 3: My Secret

With access to her 20 journals, Simon discovers Alana’s devotion and obsession with sin, Father Dave’s encroaching influence, and the secret she’s asked to keep. This ep

Aug 21 2023
38 min

Part 2: Father

Simon recounts his earlier calling to the priesthood. Alana sneaks out to church, and meets a controversial priest who advises her on becoming a nun. This episode contai

Aug 14 2023
32 min

Part 1: Mom

Simon travels to Boulder to meet Alana’s mother, Joyce, and becomes determined to help her understand what happened to Alana. This episode contains references to suicide

Aug 14 2023
33 min

'Dear Alana,' [Teaser]

Alana’s mother finds a letter Alana wrote to herself before she died, a letter that reveals the very complicated relationship she had with her family, her church, and her

Aug 8 2023
1 min

Introducing "Dear Alana,"

A devout Colorado youth, Alana Chen, disappears from Boulder, leaving behind dozens of journals that reveal her aspiration to become a nun alongside fatal secrets about s

Aug 7 2023
2 min