What Happens After Leaving Mormonism?

Check Out Audra's FREE Masterclass about navigating the grief, guilt, and identity crisis after leaving Mormonism: https://mamaaudra.com/trainingWhat happens when your entire identity is built around a high-control religion, and you begin to question it? This week, I sit down with Audra Phelps, an educator, former member of the LDS Church, and coach who helps people navigate life after leaving high-control religions. We discuss the overlap between homeschooling and religious environments, why questioning your beliefs can feel terrifying, and the long process of rebuilding your identity after deconstruction. Whether you've left religion yourself or are simply curious about how people reclaim their lives after high-control systems, this conversation is full of empathy, nuance, and hopeConnect with AudraWebsite: https://mamaaudra.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamaaudraofficial/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Mama-AudraTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mamaaudra Resources MentionedWhen Religion Hurts You: https://drlauraeanderson.com/bookCoalition for Responsible Home Education: https://crhe.org If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who might benefit from hearing this story. Connect with meBuyMeACoffee: buymeacoffee.com/exhsclubEmail me at [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhsclubNewsletter: https://exhsclub.beehiiv.com/Substack: https://exhsclub.substack.comChapters00:00 Welcome to the Ex-Homeschoolers Club00:58 Meet Audra Phelps01:35 Audra's Teaching Journey02:57 Homeschooling Pros and Cons03:41 Teacher Training Respect05:46 Homeschool Outcomes Seen07:40 Teamwork With Schools10:40 Why Move Overseas13:14 Homeschool Bubble Effects14:48 Jacob Leaving the Bubble16:51 Growing Up in the Mormon Church18:24 High Demand Religion Explained20:36 Church Taught Me To Distrust Myself24:03 How Mormonism Adds Prophets and Extra Scripture To The Bible26:05 Comparing Faith Traditions28:47 Deconstruction Starts Small29:55 Exiting High-Controlled Religion33:11 Anxiety And Panic From Gender Roles35:13 Finding Independence Through Teaching36:56 Going Overseas Changed My Perspective39:06 Pandemic and Stepping Back41:21 Are These Sacred Spaces Evil?42:41 An Awakening In Sagrada Familia44:09 Saying It Out Loud44:53 Religious Trauma Resurfacing46:42 Identity Loss and Mom Guilt48:54 Leaving Leads To Loneliness and Family Fallout51:33 Marriage Through Deconstruction57:29 Grieving for the Unlived Life01:00:47 How To Get Out Of The Confusion01:05:02 Becoming A Coach For The Ex-Mormon Moms01:11:37 Regulating the Nervous System01:14:04 Body Based Belief Work01:16:56 Finding Your Voice Again01:19:17 Connect with Audra