Latter Day Struggles

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

485: On Normalizing Gender Inequality with Primary-Aged LDS Girls

Send us a Positive Review! In July of 2026 the LDS children's magazine, the Friend published an article addressing a little LDS girl's concern about there bein

Nov 9
44 min

483: Finding Hidden Wisdom Because of my Mormon Faith Crisis

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode Valerie is guest on the podcast Hidden Wisdom & engages in a beautiful conversation with Meghan Farner on a range of topics, f

Nov 2
53 min

481: On Devout LDS Parents w/ Queer Children with Dr. Brad Reedy

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode Valerie welcomes Dr. Brad Reedy, colleague, author, and fellow psychotherapist working primarily with an LDS audience in Salt

Oct 26
56 min

479: Stay in the Room: A Journey to Unconditionally Loving your Gay Child w/ Micheal & Jeff McLean

Send us a Positive Review! In this not-to-be-missed episode, Val interviews Michael McLean (of The Forgotten Carols and Mr. Kruger's Christmas) and his delightful s

Oct 19
1 h 36 min

477: The Problem with Leadership by Seniority

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode, Val is joined by Greg Prince, and their focus begins with Hugh B Brown’s legacy of gutsy leadership & expands to an explorati

Oct 12
43 min

475: Mormon Women & Men Waking Up to Patriarchal Impact

Send us a Positive Review! The news is getting out. Patriarchy harms everyone in its clutches. The women and children of course. But men too. Actually, it hurts them a

Oct 5
1 h 36 min

473: The Emotional Rollercoaster of General Conference Weekend

Send us a Positive Review! In this special Office Hours recording, a couple dozen people joined Valerie to talk about the emotional experience that only the former devou

Sep 28
1 h 05 min

BONUS EPISODE! Lowering Time & Financial Barriers to Mormon Faith Crisis Healing

Send us a Positive Review! Just a quick announcement to start a process of changing my philosophy here on Latter Day Struggles. I care deeply about two things: YOU... An

Sep 24
19 min

471: What Would You Say to Your Polygamous Great Grandmother?

Send us a Positive Review! Very few of us doubt that we have been profoundly impacted by the imprints of patriarchy in our early personality development. What most do no

Sep 21
48 min

469: Five Truths About Love & Goodness that all Queer Mormons (Past & Present) Need to Know

Send us a Positive Review! Patriarchy impacts people at a soul-wrenching level, and perhaps no other group is more stricken than our LGBTQ+ community. Please join us for

Sep 14
1 h 54 min

467: Carol Lynn Pearson: Icon of Mormon Feminism

Send us a Positive Review! In this priceless short series, Val & Carol Lynn delve into Carol Lynn's deepest passion: feminism. Listen is as she delights us with st

Sep 7
1 h 55 min

465: In Honor of Carol Lynn Pearson: Our Prophetess & Mystic

Send us a Positive Review! In honor of our very beloved Carol Lynn Pearson (a bold, sassy woman and the dearest of mentors to me) I wanted to share this beautiful two-pa

Aug 31
2 h 19 min

463: Sunstone 2026: Cracking the Code of Mormon Polarization

Send us a Positive Review! Join Val as her audience while she does a final run through on a topic that has come to be a passion project for her on Latter Day Struggles.

Aug 24
1 h 03 min

461: Stories of Healing Live Event Musings (from Val!)

Send us a Positive Review! Have you ever done something for the first time and feel that pit in your stomach as it approaches? Well, here at Latter Day Struggles, prett

Aug 17
36 min

459: Exploring Family Challenges when LDS Young Adults Disaffiliate w/ Liz Macdonald AUDIOBOOK

Send us a Positive Review! Lately there has been a lot of talk about the LDS disaffiliation crisis in the 21st century. Here at Latter Day Struggles we support open dial

Aug 10
3 h 44 min

457: Prophet Worship Compassionately Explained

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode Val digs into the concept of prophet worship [or any time humans hand over their discerning power to a formal authority figure

Aug 3
43 min

455: How & Why the LDS Church is BOTH Booming & Bleeding out Members

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode Valerie tackles a seemingly contradictory pair of claims: The LDS church is experiencing record-breaking growth! The LDS c

Jul 27
49 min

453: Listening & Learning: Why LDS Loved Ones Could Not Stay in the Church

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Torn: Why People We Love are Leaving the Church & What We Can Learn from Them [Part III of III] In this final episode of this b

Jul 20
1 h 12 min

451: A Changing Society is Starving for Religious Systems to Meet them Where they Are

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Torn: Why People We Love are Leaving the Church & What We Can Learn from Them [Part II of III] In this fascinating episode, gue

Jul 13
59 min

449: Torn: A Book Written to Help Your Devout Loved One Understand You

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Torn: Why People We Love are Leaving the Church & What We Can Learn from Them [Part 1 of 3] In this three part series, Valerie

Jul 6
1 h 02 min

Chart positions

Where Latter Day Struggles ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Nov 11, 2026).

#156 ▲ 28 Mental Health US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I haven’t found another podcast that is so respectful and loving toward devoted members while also being willing to have the hard conversations and challenge black and white thinking. It creates space for nuance and growth, and it has strengthened my marriage by giving my husband and me so much to think about and discuss each week. Valerie and Nathan are thoughtful, compassionate, and incredibly genuine. They never claim to have all the answers, but they’re willing to learn, grow, and invite us listeners along for the journey. I’m so grateful I found this podcast. It has made a meaningful difference in my life.

Cardell-fam · Jul 2026

I love this podcast so much, I backed up to episode 1 and am listening to them in order. I’ve been listening everyday for the past month. I feel that my spiritual health and strength is increasing due in large part to the thoughts and principles I’m hearing and then processing, and incorporating into my life.

agos9707 · Dec 2025

I stumbled over one of Valerie’s classes through another therapist, and I was hooked. So many of the things Valerie said in that class, spoke to my soul. Somewhere during that class, I heard she had a podcast and I knew I needed to find it. I have been binging ever since! Thank you to the Hamaker’s for the work they do and being so inclusive. Thank you for putting words to our feelings that we don’t know how to explain. We are forever grateful!

Mama BD4 · Aug 2025

Thank you for everything. This podcast has changed my life. Thank you for helping me to feel so much less alone in my beliefs and encouraging people to take care of themselves, love themselves and others, to ask hard questions, and to challenge the status quo. The work you do is incredibly sacred and your podcast came into my life at the perfect moment — I really needed this. Thank you for having the courage to do this every day despite incredible opposition. I read an article about your story surrounding recent events with your forced excommunication from the church and while I am so sincerely sorry for what you have gone through, I’m so grateful it led me to your podcast. Thank you again and keep changing lives! We love and support you, as do our Heavenly Parents. 🩷

beanbean!!!!!!!!&!' · Apr 2025

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.