Best Valerie Hamaker Podcasts (2024)

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224. Not Fearing Others' Faith Journeys - A Conversation with Valerie Hamaker 1:01:41

10d ago1:01:41

1:01:41

Today, we’re thrilled to welcome therapist and podcaster Valerie Hamaker. In his book Falling Upward, Franciscan priest Richard Rohr uses the metaphor of a container to elaborate on what he calls “the two halves of life.” The first half of life, he says, is for building the structure of the container; the second is for filling it and sharing from i…

1
249: A Modern Map for Psychological Growth in our Latter-Day Saint Community [Part I of IV] 41:36

1h ago41:36

41:36

In this opening episode [of a four-part series], Valerie welcomes organizational psychologist Ryan Gottfredson for a fascinating study of how our level of psychological development impacts how we (our loved ones, our friends, and our church!) navigate religion and spirituality. This episode is a broad overview of Ryan's scholarship, found in his bo…

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227. The Counter-culture of Commitment - A Conversation with Pete Davis 58:40

1h ago58:40

58:40

This week, we are re-releasing a conversation with Pete Davis. In 2018, Pete Davis was graduating from Harvard Law School and was chosen to give a commencement address that ended up going unexpectedly viral, having now been viewed over 30 million times. The thesis of Pete’s speech was that our culture has entered what he calls “infinite browsing mo…

1
🔒 248: Honoring and Expanding Spiritual Experiences in the Latter-day Saint Faith Journey [Part II of II] 41:31

4h ago41:31

41:31

Subscriber-only episode In this episode, Valerie and Nathan continue making sense of the struggle that many faith-expanding LDS (and surrounding) people have regarding past and present spiritual experiences. Sharing personal experiences of their own faith journeys, they open up about how their relationship to spiritual impressions, prayer, and pers…

1
247: Redefining Personal Revelation in the Faith Expansion Journey [Part I of II] 52:56

4d ago52:56

52:56

In this episode of Latter Day Struggles, Valerie and Nathan respond to a very common question that people in early faith crisis often ask: "What do I make of my former spiritual experiences?" This two part series tackles many aspects of this perplexing aspect of faith expansion. Val and Nathan talk about the feelings of confusion that many feel abo…

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Fully Alive - A Conversation with Elizabeth Oldfield 36:24

1h ago36:24

36:24

Today, we’re sharing a beautiful conversation between writer and thinker Elizabeth Oldfield and Zachary Davis. Elizabeth is the author of Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times and host of the podcast, “Sacred”. Elizabeth grew up in a faintly Christian home that rarely if ever spoke of God; But as a young teen she had a powerful and un…

1
🔒 246: Practicing the Law of Love in Difficult Relationships: A Continued Conversation with Steve Young [Part II of II] 26:40

7d ago26:40

26:40

Subscriber-only episode In this follow up episode Valerie and guest Steve Young delve into more specific examples related to the power of moving away from seeing the world through the lens of transaction and towards embodying more purely the teachings of Jesus Christ defined by unconditional love. With personal examples from his own journey, Steve …

1
245: Moving from Transaction to Transformation: A Conversation with Steve Young [Part I of II] 57:24

11d ago57:24

57:24

In this enlightening episode of Latter Day Struggles, Valerie welcomes special guest Steve Young to delve into the transformative power of love within the context of faith expansion in and around the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Together they explore ideas from Steve's book, "The Law of Love," highlighting the journey from transacti…

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Life after Doom - A Conversation with Brian McLaren 1:03:33

6d ago1:03:33

1:03:33

This week, we're bringing you a special episode with Brian Mclaren on his new book, Life after Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart. Though we recorded this conversation weeks ago, it feels especially timely now in light of the horrific violence we witnessed this last weekend in the attempt on former President Trump's life, the deadly…

1
🔒 244: How Loyalty can Hinder Love [Part II of II] 41:12

14d ago41:12

41:12

Subscriber-only episode In this advanced content exclusive part two of this series, Valerie and Nathan continue to analyze the complexities of loyalty and how and when it can clash with personal integrity. Together, they explore the potential conflicts arising when loyalty is prioritized over love within church institutions, and particularly how th…

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243: Exploring Loyalty: A Journey Towards Christlike Love [Part I of II] 40:20

18d ago40:20

40:20

In part one of this two part series, Valerie and Nathan delve into the delicate relationship between love, loyalty, and integrity. They discuss how loyalty, when prioritized over love, can lead to moral conflicts, confusion and systemic issues. The conversation centers around recognizing loyalty as a near enemy to love, particularly within politica…

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225. The Call to be in the World - A Conversation with Astrid Tuminez 57:53

12d ago57:53

57:53

Today, we're resharing an interview we loved with Astrid Tuminez, who we're excited to be hosting as a speaker at Restore this year. Astrid is the President of Utah Valley University and an absolute delight to talk with and listen to. She’s full of stories, humor, and deep insights that made our time with her pass way too quickly. This interview ac…

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🔒 Episode 242: Inviting a Universal Zion: Trauma, Healing, and the Evolution of Latter-day Atonement Perspectives with Fiona Givens [Part IV of IV] 1:23:03

22d ago1:23:03

1:23:03

Subscriber-only episode In this capstone episode concluding their groundbreaking four-part series treating the intersection of atonement theology, trauma healing, and the penal justice system, Valerie and Fiona Givens dive into some beautiful and unique contributions that can be found in LDS theology. They highlight some obscure but profound ideas …

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Episode 241: Trauma-informed Atonement Theology for Wounded Christians and Criminals with Fiona Givens [Part III of IV] 1:17:06

27d ago1:17:06

1:17:06

Welcome to part III [of a four-part series] where Valerie and special guest Fiona Givens dive deep into atonement theology, its implications on the growth of the human soul in general, the criminal justice system in particular, and the need for a healing-focused approach within the church and society. A significant portion of the discussion focuses…

1
🔒 Episode 240: The Evolution of Atonement Theology and Its Impact on American Penal Justice with Fiona Givens [Part II of IV] 1:16:06

1M ago1:16:06

1:16:06

Subscriber-only episode In this enlightening episode two [of a four-part series] Valerie and Fiona Givens delve deep into the historical and theological underpinnings of atonement theology and its profound impact on the American penal justice system. Fiona provides a rich historical context, explaining the shift from early Christian views that emph…

1
Episode 239: Exploring Eastern and Western Atonement: A Journey from Woundedness to Sinfulness with Fiona Givens [Part I of IV] 1:01:40

1M ago1:01:40

1:01:40

Welcome to a podcast series that has been months in the making and one that you will NOT want to miss if you desire to find health and healing in your relationship with God, atonement, hope, and healing. In this four part series, Valerie welcomes return guest and gifted LDS theologian Fiona Givens. Together they delve deeply into the development of…

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223. Freedom from the Burden of Judging - A Conversation with Michael Wilcox (Part 2) 43:51

27d ago43:51

43:51

This is part two of our conversation with Michael Wilcox, and if you haven’t heard part one yet, it helps set up some important context for this episode. This is really not an interview so much as a story Michael tells: the story of his father, who navigated life in the mid-20th century as a gay man and a Latter-day Saint. This story delves into th…

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222. Freedom from the Burden of Judging - A Conversation with Michael Wilcox (Part 1) 50:36

1M ago50:36

50:36

This week, we're thrilled to welcome back Dr. Michael Wilcox to the podcast. Michael is an esteemed author and longtime Institute teacher, and his previous episodes, which we released in two parts as "God's Many Voices" in episodes 85 and 86, have been some of the most listened to in Faith Matters' history. It's been three years since we last had h…

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🔒 Episode 238: Near Enemies in the LDS Church: Confronting and Healing from Hidden Barriers to Spiritual Growth (Part IV of IV) 45:11

1M ago45:11

45:11

Subscriber-only episode In this thought-provoking final episode of this four-part series, Valerie explores the complex historical and cultural factors that contribute to the prevalence of unique near enemy behaviors within the LDS Church. She discusses how the church's trauma history, including persecution and isolation, has fostered a culture of e…

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Episode 237: Growing Beyond Near Enemy Tendencies in the Context of the LDS Faith (Part III of IV) 49:13

1M ago49:13

49:13

In this episode three (of a four-part series) Val and Nathan continue their deep dive into applications of the Buddhist concept of the near enemy, shining a light on how this concept might apply to how the LDS and surrounding community might grow in light and truth as these ideas are understood and embraced. They focus on how behaviors like self-ag…

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221. The Amen Effect - A Conversation with Rabbi Sharon Brous 56:46

23d ago56:46

56:46

This week, we are honored to share with you a conversation with Rabbi Sharon Brous, author of the The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World. From the moment we started reading Sharon’s book, we knew that she had a special message, and that she would be an incredible guest. Sharon’s book is a beautiful blend of ancient Jewi…

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🔒 Episode 236: Growing Beyond Near Enemy Tendencies in the Context of LDS Faith [Part II of IV]-EXCLUSIVE 1:12:58

2M ago1:12:58

1:12:58

Subscriber-only episode In this Latter Day Struggles EXCLUSIVE [episode two of a four-part series] Val and Nathan explore several topics relevant to the LDS faith journey through the lens of the "near enemy". Their focus in this advanced-content episode includes an analysis of: **Faithfulness as the near-enemy of personal integrity **Checklist obed…

1
Episode 235: A Study of the Near Enemy and its Relevance in Spiritual Systems [Part I of IV] 34:04

2M ago34:04

34:04

In this episode one [of a four-part series] Valerie and Nathan delve into the profound concept of the "Near Enemy," highlighting how certain behaviors that superficially resemble virtues actually hinder personal growth and damage interpersonal relationships. Drawing from Buddhist wisdom and Brené Brown's integrative work, they discuss how the near …

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220. Pioneering Peace - A Conversation with Eboo Patel 56:57

2M ago56:57

56:57

This week, we’re sharing an episode from Proclaim Peace, a podcast we proudly co-sponsor in collaboration with Mormon Women for Ethical Government. Proclaim Peace is hosted by Jennifer Thomas, Co-Executive Director of MWEG, and Patrick Mason, Chair of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University, and longtime friend and advisor of Faith Matt…

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🔒 Episode 234: Spiritual Scrupulosity [Part IV of IV]-Healing a Culture of Competition, Transactional Worthiness, and Perfectionism in LDS Full-time Missionary Service 49:35

2M ago49:35

49:35

Subscriber-only episode In this final episode in their series tackling the topic of OCD spiritual scrupulosity within the context of the LDS faith, Valerie and Brannon Patrick reflect on their own experiences as missionaries to offer a respectful critique of a culture that of vulnerable to struggles with mental health in general and spiritual scrup…

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Episode 233: Spiritual Scrupulosity [Part III of IV]-How Religious Teachings May Impact Anxiety and Self-worth 49:27

2M ago49:27

49:27

In this episode three [of a four-part series] Valerie welcomes fellow therapist colleague Brannon Patrick for a discussion highlighting the profound impact of OCD scrupulosity on individuals within the LDS community. In an unexpected turn of events, both Val and Brannon realize that they each struggled in their adolescence with the same unnamed fea…

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219. What's the Future of Women at Church? A Conversation with Neylan McBaine and Bethany Brady Spalding 59:57

2M ago59:57

59:57

This week we’re bringing you a conversation on a subject that we’re always thinking about, but that has taken on a special urgency over the last two months—the role of women in the Church. A large survey recently released showed a societal shift with regard to women and religion. In a reversal of trends from prior generations, young women are now l…

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🔒 Episode 232: Spiritual Scrupulosity [Part II of IV]-On Confession, Sexuality, and Personal Authority 1:04:01

2M ago1:04:01

1:04:01

Subscriber-only episode In this episode two [of a four-part series] Valerie and guest author Taylor Kerby delve into the complexities of OCD scrupulosity within the context of the Latter-Day Saint faith. They continue their conversation tackling the following topics connecting OCD spiritual scrupulosity with the LDS faith tradition: 1. Spiritual Ex…

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Episode 231: Spiritual Scrupulosity [Part I of IV]-Healing our Ideas about a Disappointed God 55:24

2M ago55:24

55:24

In this opening episode of a four-part series focused on OCD spiritual scrupulosity in the context of the LDS church, Valerie begins by interviewing Taylor Kerby, author the the book "Scrupulous: My Obsessive Compulsion for God". In this episode Taylor shares his journey with spiritual scrupulosity, explaining how these conditions manifested as com…

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218. A New Book Every Time - A Conversation with Bob Rees 42:59

2M ago42:59

42:59

This week, we're excited to have Bob Rees on the podcast. Bob is a true "long-haul hero" (to use Pete Davis's term) -- a Latter-day Saint who has been studying and writing on Latter-day Saint topics for more than fifty years. To us, Bob exhibits the best of what we have to offer theologically, and practically, to the world. Bob believes that the de…

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🔒 Episode 230: An Analysis of Conflicting Messages on Career & Motherhood 1:18:39

2M ago1:18:39

1:18:39

Subscriber-only episode In this episode, Valerie and Nathan tackle Camille Johnson's recent address from the 2024 BYU Women’s Conference and its many contradictory and conflicting messages around personal choice, healthy and unhealthy leadership and followership, gender roles, womanhood, motherhood, career, obedience, and personal revelation. The c…

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How do I support my 13-year-old daughter who wants to stay in the LDS Church when I have left? 29:43

2M ago29:43

29:43

In today's episode I talk with Saren and answer the question “How do I support my 13-year-old daughter who wants to stay in the LDS Church when I have left?” Saren is trying to reconcile letting her child be a part of something that she has chosen to leave behind while also respecting her daughter’s agency. To top it off, her daughter has had a dif…

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Episode 229: Rewriting LDS Women's History - An Overview of Camille Johnson's Women's Conference Address 46:23

2M ago46:23

46:23

In preparation for Friday's sensitive-content exclusive episode 230, Valerie offers a detailed overview of the entirety of General Relief Society President Camille Johnson's recent address given at the 2024 BYU Women's Conference. This address was both intriguing and concerning, focusing concurrently on both following the specific directions of out…

1
Bonus! 4:34

2M ago4:34

4:34

Big News! Listen in and rest assured that more info is coming! Thanks for being here on our mutual faith expansion journey! Support the Show. **More sensitive or more psychologically advanced themes will be saved for Friday "Exclusive" episodes for subscribers only. This is in an effort to protect the content creators from being mischaracterized by…

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217. Surveying the Saints — A Conversation with Josh Coates 1:13:59

2M ago1:13:59

1:13:59

This week, we’re sharing a fascinating conversation we had with Josh Coates, a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and founder of the BH Roberts Foundation. The BH Roberts Foundation is the non-profit behind Mormonr, a producer of Latter-day Saint media that tackles hard questions about the faith, as well as "LDSBot," an AI-driven chatbot that is abl…

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🔒 Episode 228: LDS Faith Journey & the Birth of Complex Thinking 40:27

2M ago40:27

40:27

Subscriber-only episode In this follow up episode on the heels of her guest collaboration with the At Last She Said It podcast, Valerie delves much deeper into a topic that is key to our process of deciding when sacrifice and suffering is "good" as opposed to when it is unnecessary and unhealthy. A key to discerning between "good hard" and "bad har…

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Episode 227: The Harder the Better? with "At Last She Said It!" 1:05:13

3M ago1:05:13

1:05:13

In this thought-provoking episode Valerie is the guest on the fabulous podcast "At Last She Said It" with hosts Cynthia Winward and Susan Hinckley. In this conversation this dynamic trio dives deep into the challenging concept of "good hard" vs. "bad hard" within the LDS community. They highlight the crucial difference between actions driven by fea…

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216. Big Stories, Little Saints — A Conversation with Sarah and Josh Sabey 58:24

3M ago58:24

58:24

We're so excited to have Sarah and Josh Sabey on the podcast this week. Sarah and Josh are writers, filmmakers, and spouses. Their films cover important issues in non-polarizing ways. Their first film, American Tragedy, reached the top ten most watched films on Amazon Prime. Their latest project is called The Book of Mormon Storybook for Little Sai…

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Valerie Hamaker Podcasts

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