Girlscamp

Detroit native Alley Bird comes to Girlscamp to talk about her experience growing up as a Black Mormon girl, learning about the priesthood ban in seminary as a teenager, and later experiencing colorism on her mission in El Salvador. We talk about the health (or lack thereof) of sister missionaries, the resources (or lack thereof) for Black missionaries facing racism, and the unique culture surrounding Mormon missions. Alley also shares about her brief stint as a Temple Square Visitors’ Center missionary during Covid. You can find Alley on TikTok here and on Instagram here. Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been 10 years since our Mormon temple wedding at 20 and 21. Today Bentley and I are reflecting on young marriage, navigating faith deconstruction as a couple, the advice we’d give our younger selves, and whether we’d do it all over again. Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest Ash Santos always dreamed outside the Mormon box. After an early marriage and becoming a mom young, she landed her first big break on American Horror Story. She later deconstructed her faith and then her marriage. And after years of fighting for the life she actually wanted, she’s now in a lead role as Andrea Cruz on the CBS hit series Marshals. Amber Fillerup Girlscamp episode Ash Santos on Instagram Marshals on CBS Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re doing a bread-and-butter Girlscamp submission episode today: church mission stories. We’re chatting about crazy (and sometimes dangerous) companions, bizarre proselytizing run-ins, and what happens when you tell the Mormon missionaries you don’t believe in Joseph Smith. Come along for the ride! Crazy Mormon Mission Stories episode STALKED on a Mormon Mission episode Sister Missionary Snapchat ad Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve got much to discuss about Netflix’s new docuseries Trust Me: The False Prophet. Watching it, I was surprised by how familiar parts of it felt. In this episode I talk through the parallels and patterns I noticed between the Samuelites, the FLDS, and mainstream Mormonism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we’re catching up. I’ve got some life updates, big and small, to talk through with you. And, per usual, lots of thoughts and feelings about all of them. Vagus Nerve Exercises card deck Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chief Mary Murdock Meyer joins Girlscamp to share the history of the Timpanogos Nation, especially where it intersects with Mormon settlement in what we now call Utah. She talks about what life looked like for her people before 1847, what changed after Mormon settlers arrived, and how that history still shapes the Timpanogos Nation. We also talk about what those of us with Utah pioneer ancestry can better understand about how to engage with this history now. Petition to rescind extermination order The Timpanogos Nation website You can follow the Timpanogos Nation on InstagramFacebookYoutubeSubstackPatreon Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re talking all things Easter this week! First on the agenda: why are Mormons suddenly celebrating Holy Week? Since when was Palm Sunday a thing? Then we get into resurrection theology, fear of death, and what it looks like to celebrate Easter after religion. You can listen to the full episode on the Girlscamp: Unplugged Patreon here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Instead of asking ourselves “What Would Jesus Do?”, today we’re asking: What Would Hayley Do? I’m responding to your submitted dilemmas, talking through how useful the WWJD framework actually is as a decision-making tool, and (for fun) applying that question to some Mormon internet apologists… which doesn’t exactly go great for them. Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tiffany grew up in a plural marriage family within a fundamentalist Mormon group, the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB). Her mom was a fourth wife and later (after a divorce) a sixth. As a teenager, she began questioning and ultimately left the principle of polygamy, joining mainstream Mormonism and getting married. When both her faith and her marriage later unraveled, Tiffany had to start over and begin building a life on her own terms. REFERENCES “Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men” by Lundy Bancroft “It's Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People” By Ramani Durvasula PhD Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 4 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is here and you know I have THOUGHTS. In this SLOMW Season 4 recap, I’m breaking down the DadTok attempted takeover (and what it says about Mormon male culture), that wild “honor your mother” moment between Liann and Taylor Frankie Paul, what Mayci’s husband said about the priesthood, and the moment Harry Jowsey thought polygamy was a person. As an ex-Mormon, I have a lot to say and a lot of feelings, so buckle up for some ranting. “Codependent No More(Mon)” Episode YouTube “Codependent No More(Mon)” Episode Interview with Chase McWhorter Interview with Jessi Draper Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’ve been swept up in the energy of the Year of the Fire Horse, but realized I didn’t really know what it was all about. So today we’re deep diving the Chinese zodiac and what this fiery horse year is supposed to bring. I also talk about if (and how) I engage with belief systems like this now that I’m post-religion. Giddy up!  BBC on the Chinese Zodiac race The YouTube video on time Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got David Archuleta! From the pressure of being Mormonism’s golden boy after American Idol to embracing his sexuality and learning to trust himself, David opens up about the long road that led him to step away from Mormonism and into a whole new chapter of life. David’s book Devout David on Instagram David on TikTok Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Round two of your church dating stories is here! I’m equal parts entertained and concerned for all of us. These range from awkward to chaotic to maddening. If you survived church dating culture, you’re among friends here at Girlscamp.  REFERENCES  “What’s REALLY going on at BYU?” podcast “What’s REALLY going at BYU?” YouTube Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you stay Mormon if you don’t actually believe it? Jessica Paige identifies as a secular Mormon and joins me to talk about why she stays, how she defines that label and what it actually looks like to participate in Mormon life without belief. You can find Jessica on TikTok here. Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crazy church dating stories incoming! We’re talking condescending Mormon men, purity culture weirdness and the intense marriage focus in high-demand religions. More specifically: Shrek cosplay YouTube videos, a family who spiritually communicates with dragons and a Mormon guy who’s a little TOO into Harry Potter. In-N-Out at midnight TikTok Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I’m diving into the Mormon POV on Mother Mary. And beyond some very ahem interesting doctrinal points (see the title), Mary opens up a much bigger conversation about virginity and virtue, the physical nature of the Mormon God, and the absence of any real female divinity in LDS theology. Mary, the Mother of Jesus (according to TCOJCOLDS) FAIR Latter Day Saints on Mary The Guardian Article Mormon Research Ministry Article on Mary Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Benny grew up feeling like something about him was “wrong.” After pushing through the Mormon path—full-time mission, BYU education—he eventually came out and began learning how to love himself for who he is. With his expertise in gender and sexuality, we talk about Mormon manhood, coming out at BYU, his continued fascination with deep-cut LDS doctrine, and how he’s embracing new forms of spirituality today. Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I consumed a lot of Mormon and Mormon-adjacent media this week: Heather Gay’s Surviving Mormonism, Elizabeth Smart’s new documentary Kidnapped and Jennette McCurdy’s latest novel Half His Age. As you can imagine, I’ve got thoughts! We get into purity culture and sex, what it means to face the very worst of Mormonism, and where the bounds of “religious freedom” really are. And I also end up sharing a heavy family conversation I had this week about immigration enforcement and just how intense everything feels right now. You can find the whole episode on the Girlscamp: Unplugged Patreon here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three years later, I’m revisiting the question that kicked off the whole Girlscamp podcast. I talk about how my answer to why I left the Mormon church has evolved, and reflect on how this podcast has helped shape me. Here’s to three more years!  The first Girlscamp episode Russell M. Nelson quote on the historicity of the Book of Mormon The Trevor Project Utah LGBTQ+ mental health statistics Sober Mormon TikTok post Tishmal “Leaving for Love” episode YouTube Tishmal “Leaving for Love” episode Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m resurrecting the campfire chat ✝️ and diving into your thoughts and questions. We end up covering a lot of ground: Mormon adult infantilization, mixed-faith extended family dynamics, learning to trust yourself after high-demand religion, threesome thoughts, and more. Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. THRIVE Conference- St. George 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The most tragic episode in the history of the Church,” according to the Mormon Church’s own website, is the Mountain Meadows Massacre. In this episode, we talk about the violence carried out by early Mormons at Mountain Meadows, what was deliberately covered up, and how to reckon with that history now—especially after leaving the church. We dig into the social and political tensions between Mormons in the Utah Territory and the federal government, the complex relationships with the Paiute people, and the fact that Mormon headquarters still isn’t fully addressing the elephant in the room. You can listen to the entire episode at the Girlscamp: Unplugged Patreon here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though we both left Mormonism, Ash and I ended up in very different spiritual places. We talk about the tension between my skepticism and her mysticism, what New Age spirituality looks like in her everyday life, and the meaning it brings her. We also talk about her family’s move to Missouri to prepare for the Mormon Second Coming, and how that has shaped her worldview. Tune in for a dose of Ash magic ✨ Ash's Instagram Ash's Patreon account Ash's first Girlscamp episode Head to MarleySpoon.com/offer/GIRLSCAMP for up to 25 free meals Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year was a big one for internal change. I’m sharing what I’ve changed my mind about in 2025 — my relationship with Mormonism, how I feel about Jesus, and what I now think counts as grounds for divorce. Then I’m reading your mind-changes, from something as small as eating kiwi skin to something as big as a 180 on political beliefs. Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In light of senior Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland’s passing, we’re sitting down to take a real look at his life and legacy. He shaped so many of us in our Mormonism (and influenced many of our exits, too). He was my former favorite apostle, and I still have lines he said memorized. Those lines ring very differently now. Let’s get into it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I get to be the Catholic priest. I’m reading your end-of-year confessions: marriage woes, smut enjoyment, religious indoctrination worries, and getting freaky at BYU. I also unpack my thoughts on the uproar over John Dehlin’s comments about his Mormonism, and whether I think I’m more ethical than practicing Mormons. Tommy Johnson’s reel about John Dehlin Terry real Instagram Zoomie (the girl with the list) TikTok account Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No better time than Christmas to take a look at who Jesus really was. This episode is a deep dive into the historical Jesus—what we know, what we don’t, and how the story evolved over time. I ended up liking Jesus (the real guy) a lot more by the end of this. So, merry Christmas to that 🥂Yale Professor lecture “The Historical Jesus” Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have some catching up to do! I’m getting into some ✨off the main feed ✨ topics today: an interaction with a couple moms from my kid’s extracurriculars, BTS from the Chase McWhorter episode, Christmas-time mom guilt, more about my grief journey and how I feel about people who go to church just for the community. See you there! You can listen to the full episode on the Girlscamp: Unplugged Patreon here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chase McWhorter, of the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, comes to Girlscamp today to talk about his Mormon upbringing, sex shame and taking accountability for his recently revealed DUI charge. We dig into the context behind his choices (spoiler: it's mostly Mormon!) and the ripple effects they’ve had. We talk about what rebuilding looks like—as a man, a dad, and in his spiritual identity. Chase on The Weekly Trash with Josie Van Dyke Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Only a few weeks off social media and this bitch has stories to tell. Today I’m talking about my scrolling addiction and the moment I realized enough was enough. Then we’ll catch up while I read through your submissions and questions ❤️ Episode with Amy McPhie Allebest Podcast Episode with Amy McPhie Allebest YouTube Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari Dopamine Nation by Dr Anna Lembke The Push by Ashley Audrain No Nonsense Spirituality by Brittney Hartley Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would the story of Jesus look like if he had a wife? That’s the thought experiment Sue Monk Kidd takes on in The Book of Longings, told from the perspective of Jesus’s fictional wife, Ana. This book healed some of my Jesus trauma and helped me put words to my new kind of spirituality. It opened up conversations about the silencing of women's voices, patriarchy and power, motherhood, spiritual identity, and what autonomy and independence can look like within a marriage. You can listen to the whole episode at the Girlscamp Patreon here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If there’s one thing we’re going to do at Girlscamp, it’s talk about Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Season 3 cracked open so many conversations: toxic masculinity in patriarchal marriages, the complexity of progressive Mormonism, racism in the Book of Mormon, and intimacy issues born from purity culture. Let’s get into it. REFERENCES Jessi on Girlscamp: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3MrrfYJz5MA12g2C5tW4Fn?si=rZoTRFB4Qqqg8vLeVX4dyg Jessi on Girlscamp YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yZSxCXrDxs Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author of the viral 2016 essay Dear Mormon Man, Amy McPhie Allebest joins me to talk all things feminism in and beyond a patriarchal faith tradition. We get into how deeply patriarchy is baked into Mormonism and the wider world, why recent shifts in the church’s treatment of women can feel more harmful than helpful, and how to uproot patriarchal thinking in ourselves and our communities. We wrap with a conversation on intersectional feminism and how to keep deconstructing beyond white feminism. "Dear Mormon Man" Essay Breaking Down Patriarchy on YouTube Breaking Down Patriarchy on Instagram Breaking Down Patriarchy Podcast Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sunday check-in time! I’m answering your write-ins about everything from people-pleasing and workplace self-doubt to holiday gift-giving dread, grounds for divorce, and the rage of watching Mormon rule changes get retroactively gaslit (i.e. "it was never about modesty"). We also get into financial control in relationships, mixed-faith dating, the SLOMW season 3 men, and… whether I’ve ever been to a strip club. It’s a juicy one and feels so nice to catch up. You can listen to the full episode on the Girlscamp: Unplugged Patreon here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a full-blown Mormon reality TV takeover happening! This week, Madi Murphy-West of The Bad Broadcast joins me to break down why public fascination with Mormonism keeps growing and why it translates so well to the reality TV format. We get into Utah’s pipeline feeding Dancing With the Stars, our predictions for Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 3, and our thoughts on Taylor Frankie Paul as the new Bachelorette. BYU article about Hailey Bills Alyssa Grenfell’s video on ballroom and Utah/Mormonism Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's spookier than talking about religion? Talking about politics. 👻 So let's dive right in. This week, I'm not just sharing my political opinions (though I do a bit of that)—I'm talking about talking about politics: why it feels like such a landmine, whether it’s even productive, and how I try to navigate it all. Correction: In this episode, I mistakenly said that Donald Trump was convicted of sexual assault. He has not been criminally convicted; a civil jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation in the E. Jean Carroll case. Another note: The government shutdown wasn’t completely Trump’s fault, but the bill written by Republicans — and backed by the White House — left out the health insurance subsidies Democrats wanted, which made a shutdown much more likely. Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you know what’s right when there’s no religious rulebook anymore? This week I’m talking about how I’m rebuilding my moral compass and working through a bunch of ethical dilemmas — like whether my decision to publicly call out Christian podcasters felt morally aligned, what I’d do if I found out a friend was cheating (or being cheated on), and the ethics of parents doing online sex work. I also get into cancel culture, vaccine mandates, the Whitney Leavitt hate train, and when airing dirty laundry crosses a line. Spoiler: I’m often still torn. You can finish the rest of the episode and join the book club at the Girlscamp: Unplugged Patreon here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve got another haunted episode—this time we’re diving into LDS doctrine around devils and demons. I break down the “demons in the details” of Mormon teachings about Satan, then share your stories and reflections on what learning about the devil meant for you. Meredith’s episode Conversion Therapy to Drag Diva: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversion-therapy-to-drag-diva/id1667706991?i=1000660316563 A Study of the Problem of a Personal Devil and its Relationship to Latter-Day Saint Beliefs: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4710/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20Mormons%20believe%20in%20demons.%20The%20Church,holding%20the%20Priesthood%20and%20are%20cast%20out. Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's our third annual Girlscamp scary stories roundup! Bentley joins me as we dive into tales of a haunted mission house, a temple initiatory gone wrong, a possessed Airbnb doll, and more. Consider this your Halloween campfire… inside the chapel. Last year’s scary stories episode with Bentley Return missionary speaking Spanish video Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dallin H. Oaks was just named the new Mormon prophet, which gives us a lot to talk about. We’re doing a refresher on how a prophet is chosen, breaking down who Dallin picked as his counselors, and diving into the most problematic things he’s said as a church leader so far. To listen to the entire episode, you can join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of the horrific shooting at an LDS church building in Michigan, ex-Mormon content creators (myself included) have been hit with backlash and accused of ‘fueling hate.’ I break down why I think that’s mostly bullshit—while also exploring where it’s worth pausing to consider the line between ex-Mormonism and anti-Mormonism. From there, it’s a true mixed bag: Mayci Neeley’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives book tour soundbites, the downward trend of self-identified orthodox Mormons, my newfound niche interest in polygamy (thanks to Christine Brown Woolley’s new book about life on Sister Wives), and more. Christine Brown Woolley’s book Mormon Stories panel on “anti-Mormonism” Mayci Neeley’s NPR interview SL Tribune article on Mormon’s abandoning orthodox beliefs Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve all heard the scary ghost stories—but what about the good ones? Today I’m sharing your stories of “good ghosts”: ancestors offering advice from the other side, an apparition stepping in after an accident, and even a friendly Scottish highlander checking in on his old home. This episode turned out surprisingly heartwarming—and yes, I cried my eyes out. You’ve been warned. Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Much has transpired in Mormon news these past couple weeks, leaving anyone Mormon-adjacent with plenty of thoughts and feelings. In this episode, I’m diving into the legacy of Russell M. Nelson—the LDS prophet who passed away just last week—and unpacking the tragic shooting at a Mormon church in Michigan. I also share how these events ripple into my own life and perspective as someone speaking from the ex-Mormon experience. You can listen to the whole episode on the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will #MomTok survive this? I’m not sure—but I do have a lot of thoughts about motherhood. In this episode, I’m sharing what it’s really like being a twin mom, how we’re navigating the preschool milestone, and where I’m at with the big question of whether (or not) to have more kids. I’m also responding to your questions and submissions, covering everything from tense mother-daughter dynamics to the ethics of bringing children into the world—and even how to tell if you’re obeying or rebelling against the conditioning around motherhood. If you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started. “Girl with the list” ⁠TikTok⁠ Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here⁠ for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and sexual assault. Please take care while listening. Ellee Duke grew up the picture-perfect Mormon girl, but after moving to Nashville for a record deal at 18, she began to question everything. Her story includes a relationship that turned abusive and the church’s poor response, family struggling to make sense of her faith transition, and a lot of processing, healing, and reclamation through music. Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠here for two bonus episodes per month and more. For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ and ⁠YouTube⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Ellee Duke on Spotify Ellee Duke on Instagram Ellee Duke on TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve got plenty to rant about and plenty to rave about today ⚖️ On the rant list: the state of the world and what can be done about it, that new show The Paper, and Taylor Frankie Paul as the Bachelorette. On the rave list: my latest book obsession, a sweet motherhood milestone, Dancing With the Stars, and more. Come hang out with me while I get it all off my chest! To listen to the full episode, subscribe to the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Julie Hanks joins us to share both her professional expertise as a marriage and family therapist who has worked with women across the Mormon and ex-Mormon spectrum for over 30 years, and her personal experience of entering a new era after leaving the LDS Church, going through divorce, and embracing her true self even more. Topics we cover include: the final straw in her Mormon journey, navigating mixed-faith dynamics, finding identity after high-demand religion, and why women need more support. Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠⁠here.⁠⁠ For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Dr. Julie Hanks instagram Dr. Julie Hanks coaching services Wasatch Family Therapy To The Mothers in Zion talk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tanner and I go all the way back to third grade! We hopped on the mics this week to catch up on—first and foremost—why Diet Coke matters so much to our little ex-Mormon hearts and how we’re reevaluating our relationships with substances. From there we get into finding room for the mystical after leaving religion, “trusting your gut” both literally and figuratively, the soullessness of Freakier Friday, the TikTok-ification of art, and why we think we inherited a perfection problem from Mormonism. We hehe and haha the whole way through, and I hope you will too! “Essex Honey” by Blood Orange “Tested” podcast (on female runners who can no longer compete as women) “Shiversucker” music video Tanner’s first episode on Girlscamp Tanner’s Instagram Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠here.⁠ For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ and ⁠YouTube⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are few things I disliked as much as fasting as a Mormon, so in this episode I’m talking about why. I get into what Mormon fasting is all about and then dig into fasting practices across cultures and religions—including when it’s done for health or protest reasons. I’m also sharing a recent awkward in-person run-in and a must-see documentary. Listen to the whole episode on the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As promised, we’ve got a sex expert back on Girlscamp! Rebekah Barton, associate marriage & family therapist specializing in sex, joins us to tackle all your burning questions. We cover everything from spicing up dirty talk to grieving the reality of only ever having one partner, the toll abstinence takes on queer Mormons, how to get past masturbation hangups, and so much more. You don’t want to miss this one! Join the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon account ⁠here.⁠ For more Girlscamp content follow along on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ and ⁠YouTube⁠. For ad inquiries please email [email protected]. REFERENCES: Bekah's Instagram Bekah's TikTok Bekah's email: [email protected] Links for learning/ practicing dirty talk:  https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dirty-talk/id1623119405 https://www.dipseastories.com/audiobooks/dirty-talk-101-series/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Masturbation/ Female Pleasure Course waitlist link  (discount code: GIRLSCAMP) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices