Mormons in Media

Netflix's harrowing 4-part docuseries focuses on the crimes of Sam Batemen, but before Sam Bateman there was Warren Jeffs. As outsiders, Nicole and Rebbie can't begin to understand how either of these men were able to do what they did. Cristina helps contextualize what these religious doctrines and communities are like, how they differ from each other, where they can be mischaracterized, and what kinds of media can help vs. hurt.

Rebbie and Nicole attempt to keep up with the latest SLMW drama (looking at you Jessi and Chase). We talk young marriage, black and white thinking within religion, and explore the connection between Utah's beauty standards and the church.

Meg, Rebbie, and Lindsey try to process the most disturbing week in the Mormon Multiverse to date. Is Taylor okay? (no) Are we complicit in her issues? (probably) And how much do we dislike Jessi's husband whats-his-face? (SO MUCH).

Since its inception, the Church has used media to attempt to relate to the wider world. We talk about church messaging in the early days, how it shifted to assimilate after polygamy, the golden age of Gordon B. Hinckley, and how it paved the way for the Mormon Moments 1 and 2.0. Check out Ben on the internet!- YouTube Channel- Instagram

Two Provo girls reminisce on growing up believing Donny Osmond was the biggest celebrity in the world. Also our thoughts on SLMW season 4, TFP as the Bachelorette, what we're reading and some stress over being Olympic hosts in just 8 short years.

It's a Mormonland crossover where Rebbie, Nicole, and Eli dive into the harrowing story of Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt. We talk through the ethics of family vlogging, the pressures of parenting in LDS circles, and the unique elements of our culture that may have led to so many people being brainwashed by these two women.

The killing of Alex Pretti this weekend has a lot of us wishing the church would speak out. Jake and I discuss past church statements, what seems to be the criteria for issuing one, and the complicated intersection of politics and religion in the social media era. We've got more questions than answers, but we do know one thing: don't read the comments.

We watched a docuseries that tried very hard to prove RHOSLC's Mary Cosby is a cult leader. I'm convinced she is at least a scammer, but Nicole's expectation is that a successful pastor will be mega-rich?! What! We talk about tithing across different churches, whether having a temple recommend is like belonging to a country club, and the fascinating reality of a thriving Pentecostal church being founded in Salt Lake City in 1968.

Meg and Eli are here to talk about the best (or at least most memorable) moments of the year.

Whitney's going to Broadway! She rode the villain train all the way to the bank, meanwhile Demi is very much floundering in the role. Nicole asks me questions about patriarchy in religion, temple sealings, and the the prevalence of young marriage, and it's likely I answered all the above wrong-ish. Help me out in the comments, would you?

Our first Book Club! But it’s more like an extended Instagram post, in which Mayci Neeley of Secret Lives fame tells us about the harrowing relationships that led to her becoming the Mormon Wife she is today. From her party days as a BYU athlete, to the tragic death of her first baby daddy, to her finding blogging and becoming an influencer. We really like Mayci! We're not sure how to critique this book!Links to all the things: - Today's sponsor!! Buy Art by Alex Steele - Told You So by Mayci Neeley- Hamnet the movie and the novel- West End Girl by Lily Allen - Hunger by Roxane Gay- In Love by by Amy Bloom- I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

And is every BYU athlete secretly breaking the honor code? I read Mayci's book and I have questions.

For this Mormonland crossover, Rebbie finally watches two episodes of RHOSLC! Thankfully, co-hosts Nicole Weaver and Eli McCann are experts on the subject and can answer all her beginner's questions. We talk about what makes SLC the favorite Housewives franchise, how Latter-day Saint themes show up in it, and the surprising ways it differs from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

Amy Watkins Jensen runs Women on the Stand - a movement that explores Latter-day Saint women's visibility and involvement at church. We talk through how her work is connected to what's currently happening with Mormon women in media, how social media can be positively used for advocacy, and whether we need a Bechdel test for decision making inside the church. Here is a link to watch the YouTube series we talk about, "An Inconvenient Faith."

Lorren wrote a novel that could be just that. We discuss our current favorite books, the LDS publishing landscape, the awkwardness of ward book clubs, and everything we felt and wondered while watching our BFFs Kristen Bell and Adam Brody try to make their mixed-faith relationship work.

I texted this to Jill and we thought we'd better podcast on it. Honestly it's mostly us spouting Jenny Han theories and trying to figure out which of the books we're reading can be recommended on this podcast. Bonrad sucks!!Links to all the stuff we talked about:- New PTA movie - Sky Daddy- Jill's Substack- To All the Boys I've Loved Before- Nora Goes Off Script- Funny You Should Ask- The Bodyguard (being adapted into a Netflix movie with Leighton Meester and Jared Padalecki!!)- Liz Gilbert's new memoir- Jacinda Ardern's memoir- Everyone Is Lying to You (thriller that gives ballerina farm)

Less than 24 hours after President Russell M. Nelson passed away, a gunman opened fire on a Latter-day Saint congregation in Michigan. We're experiencing two very different types of mourning, and holding it all feels really raw. We talk about how President Nelson's message of peacemaking can apply on a week like this, where Mormonism fits into the Christian Right, and most happily the legacy President Nelson will leave behind. Read more of McKay's writing in The Atlantic as well as on his new Substack.

Jen and Whitney went from SLMW to DWTS, but before they got there, half the cast was already LDS(ish). Also, RHOSLC started and TFP is the new Bachelorette and this is too many acronyms to keep track of.

Rebbie, Diana, and Mallory discuss Hulu's new show "Are You My First." It's basically your worst Singles Ward, and somehow we loved it. If you're unfamiliar, The Soloists is a Faith Matters podcast that explores singleness broadly and within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their conversations are poignant and expansive and so important, and you should listen immediately.

Kirk tells us about his path to becoming an artist, how many people told him not to be an artist, and the promise he made to God about how he'd give back if he found success. We talk about what makes art break through the LDS bubble, how each of us defines creative success, and how critique can be a form of worship. You can see his work IRL at Provo's Compass Gallery until September 28th.Or check him out on: - Instagram- His website- His art gallery

Rebbie talks with Neylan McBaine and Jared Cardon about our love/hate of the recent Christian Rock-ification of youth music within the church. How do we define worshipful music? How did we get from pioneer hymns to Strive To Be? And is there a world where we can feel Beyonce levels of transcendence through music at church?

The Altar is a new dating show from the people who brought us two delightfully cringey seasons of Provo's Most Eligible. For me it was nostalgic (if triggering) but for Nicole it was baffling. Listen as I try to answer sensible questions like, "why are these 21 year olds so anxious to get married?" and "what's a NCMO?" Your can watch The Altar at the link below. It's such a good time.Watch The Altar here

Rebbie and Nicole are joined by Meg from Hive Mind to talk about the darkest two hours of reality television we've ever watched. Meg educates us on Bachelor Nation's Nick Viall, Nicole wonders why the women don't cut ties with the church, and all three of us are embarrassed by the supposed sexual loopholes people think Latter-day Saints are all about.

Temple garments have always been a buzzy topic, but these days they're on reality TV, in the NYT, and all over our Instagram feeds. Lindsey and Rebbie discuss the tricky realities of wearing garments (shade shirts, safety pins, nursing top hacks), whether "Garment Girlies" are a thing (please no), and the insanity of being jealous of another woman's religious clothing.

Eli discusses the pain of growing up in the church and being gay. Rebbie talks about the cognitive dissonance of having a testimony but struggling with doctrine that feels exclusionary. We talk allyship on social media vs in real life, whether flags are worth the fuss, and of course, both start crying at some point.

It's another Mormonland crossover! Nicole asks Rebbie all her "outsider" questions from the season. We talk maternity garments, coffee vs. diet coke, cross necklaces, and that culty Young Women's chant. Most importantly we wonder how a middle aged man in a Chippendale's costume almost starts a fight while stone cold sober.

There's a world of LDS folks making award-winning art, and Glen has every one of them on speed dial. From painters, to ballerinas, to opera singers, to video game composers, to Cinco Paul and Greg Whitely. Rebbie and Glen talk about his many artistic pursuits (including being a professional dancer and authoring dozens of books), his role as Director for the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts, and how anyone can be part of this movement. Some links I hope you'll use:- The Center for Latter-day Saint Arts website- Glen's website- CFLDSA Festival tickets (May 30-31)- The CFLDSA book

She's a mom blogger who broke the mold, a Latter-day Saint who wrote a book about being pro-choice, an American renovating a 400-year-old house in France. Gabby and Rebbie talk juggling parenthood and work, our favorite weird parts of Mormonism, and how to use who you already are to make your work stand out. Follow Gabrielle on Instagram, Threads, and Substack.

Our first ever crossover! In which we learn Nicole's exposure to Mormon theology comes mostly from a Housewife. We talk temples vs. meetinghouses, varying degrees of orthodoxy in Mormonism, and whether it's culturally acceptable for women to be the breadwinner a la Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

Rebbie is joined by filmmaker Jared Cardon to discuss why the Latter-day Saint movie movement got stuck in adolescence, and what it would take to get it growing again. We talk about the demise of the Kirby era, the tension between 'clean content' and creativity, and dream of the church creating a Perpetual Artist Fund.Here's the video I reference about what France does to support cinema. And here is Jared's website if you want to check out some of his work.

We talk Kirby's career beginnings in the Mormon Movie Moment, what it really takes to make it as a performer, and revisit the absurdity of beer-commercial-gate. We also discuss what it would take to recreate the glory days of 2003 and how one of us might be on the way to making it happen (!!)

Rebbie is joined by Lindsey Encinas and Meg Walter to talk about the cursed intersection of Mormonism and The Bachelor -- from Jef with one F, to the LDS Millionaire, to Litia being the most eligible woman in history who still didn't get the final rose.

The Salt Lake Tribune's Senior Religion Reporter casually tells a dozen stories that blow Rebbie's mind. From starting a Mormon magazine decades before the bloggernacle, to interviewing the Dalai Lama, and Mark Hoffman (pre-explosions), and every Latter-day Saint Prophet since Gordon B. Hinckley, to running her fingers through David A. Bednar's pristine hair. Consider this a teaser for Peggy's memoir, which we need ASAP.

Eli and Rebbie are sick of internet fights between people who love and hate the church. Why do we do this? And what would it look like to support each other, whichever side you're on?

McKay Coppins is here to blow up my theory that owning Mormonism will ruin your media career. We talk about how Mormonism has shaped his career from Buzzfeed to The Atlantic, what it's like living in DC right now, and the time he got marooned at Mar A Lago.

Our guy Andy Reid had a real bad day. We talk about what makes him so great, whether member athletes benefit from double standards, and a few stealth Mormons who made ads and won rings.

Conclave is a 2024 film starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci that has been nominated for 8 Academy Awards. In this episode, Rebbie and Meg ask their Catholic friend Cristina many dumb questions about the religion, its media depictions, and learn she somehow knows more about Mormonism than they do.

Rebbie and Lindsey dissect The Washington Post's piece that claims 2024 was the year of Mormon women. Is Hannah Neeleman ambitious or repressed? Is influencing working or "shilling?" We also get into women's (in)visibility at church from Amy Watkins Jensen's recent op-ed and discuss public figures leaving the church a la Rosie Card.

From New York to LA, the theater to The Groundlings, Shelley and Rebbie debate the likeliness of making it as a funny person when you're full in on church. Do all the best comics make dirty jokes? Does sobriety inhibit funniness, and are all our post-Mormon friends doing mushrooms?? (yes) We'd like to break the myth that clean stuff can't be funny but we're mostly breaking our brains.

In this crossover episode, Rebbie talks with Mallory Everton and Diana Brown about Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. We discuss the especially Mormon aspects of Twilight (do soulmates = eternal companions?), debate whether the dream that inspired the series was a vision, and make a case for why members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should embrace the mystical elements of their faith.  Check out more from The Soloists here and Faith Matters here.

A horror movie about sister missionaries. A religious film that’s rated R.  Hugh Grant quoting Gordon B Hinckley!!! Heretic is the movie none of us expected, but we're thrilled to process together. We discuss whether it's offensive, how it triggered us, what it does for Mormon representation, and the scene that made two of us kind of weepy in that churchy way? We're as surprised as you are.

Rebbie is joined by Neylan Mcbaine, her favorite voice on Mormon women. We discuss how being raised by a famous opera singer in New York City shaped Neylan's view of Latter-day Saint women's role in the arts, unpack the media’s current obsession with LDS women, and examine how the church has elevated female artists in the past vs now. Neylan’s projects: - LDS Women Project - Women at Church - Better Days 2020 - Faith Matters 'Restore' Conference Presentation And the book/movie you must read/watch: Small Things Like These novella by Claire Keegan, now in theaters starring Cillian Murphy. 

Rebbie is in the church while Eli is out, Rebbie hasn’t tweeted in years while Eli has 80k followers. But for all our differences we share a love of Mormon stories and a distaste for hearing them told just one way. In this episode, we discuss how Mormonism has shaped our creative paths, how the comments hit harder when you're writing on religion, and we even pitch the books we’ve written that no one wants to publish (yet!). It’s a compliment fight between two people who will someday, mark our words, be David Sedarises! Some of Eli's writing we reference: - Growing up in the heart of Mormonism - When a senior missionary offered to take he and his husband's photo - Coming out to the best family ever And Rebbie's: - I sold my sanity for the perfect family picture - Missionary season in Utah County will melt your cold dead heart

Rebbie is joined by her sportsy friends Jake Welch and Scott Stevens to talk about the role BYU Athletics plays in representing the church. We do a "where are they now" for every LDS-ish athlete in the NFL, discuss the BYU Cruise (!!!), and whether or not sports are an ice breaker when you find yourself set with Tom Brady. We throw in a dose of nerd by reminiscing about our old YSA pal J.D. Payne, who is now the showrunner for Amazon's The Ring of Power and whom we will defend in the comments against every angry Tolkienhead.

Rebbie is forced to start the podcast talking about a show she really did not want to watch. Thankfully, reality TV experts Meg & Lindsey are here for moral support. We compare SLMW to RHOSLC, discuss what felt accurate vs. sensationalized, why LDS women are so good at influencing, why in the world Rebbie did not say a word to Whitney when she met her IRL one day before recording this, and why we think the show is a net positive for Mormon representation.