Best Valerie Hamaker Podcasts (2024)

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224. Not Fearing Others' Faith Journeys - A Conversation with Valerie Hamaker 1:02:02

3d ago1:02:02

1:02:02

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
Episode 189: What About Sister Missionaries? 1:21:29

23h ago1:21:29

1:21:29

In Episode 189, ALSSI team member and returned missionary Katie joins Cynthia and Susan for a dive into listener voicemails about women’s experiences as sister missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From the pressures around the decision to serve to the daily realities of mission life, there’s plenty to unpack. The rigors…

1
Episode 241: Trauma-informed Atonement Theology for Wounded Christians and Criminals with Fiona Givens [Part III of IV] 1:16:25

2d ago1:16:25

1:16:25

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] 1:15:25

5d ago1:15:25

1:15:25

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 188: Jesus & the Canaanite Woman | Cynthia’s Sacrament Meeting Talk 55:58

8d ago55:58

55:58

“If you lift up a prism, depending on how you slightly turn it, the light will hit different facets, refracting and coming out in different ways. That's how I like to approach the scriptures,” explains Cynthia, “Turning them just ever so slightly to see what different meanings there could be.” In Episode 188, she turns her personal prism on the sto…

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Episode 239: Exploring Eastern and Western Atonement: A Journey from Woundedness to Sinfulness with Fiona Givens [Part I of IV] 1:00:59

9d ago1:00:59

1:00:59

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…

1
222. Freedom from the Burden of Judging - A Conversation with Michael Wilcox (Part 1) 50:57

11d ago50:57

50:57

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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223. Freedom from the Burden of Judging - A Conversation with Michael Wilcox (Part 2) 44:12

11d ago44:12

44:12

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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🔒 Episode 238: Near Enemies in the LDS Church: Confronting and Healing from Hidden Barriers to Spiritual Growth (Part IV of IV) 44:30

12d ago44:30

44:30

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 187: Embracing Your Journey | A Conversation with Amy Watkins Jensen 59:45

15d ago59:45

59:45

“Spiritual stretching ... makes you stronger, gives you more balance, and keeps you stable. It took me years to understand that my questions and seeking that stretch me, and are really difficult to wrestle with, are healthy and completely in line with our theology. [...] We need more stretchy saints.” Amy Watkins Jensen has plenty of hard-earned wi…

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Episode 237: Growing Beyond Near Enemy Tendencies in the Context of the LDS Faith (Part III of IV) 48:32

16d ago48:32

48:32

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…

1
221. The Amen Effect - A Conversation with Rabbi Sharon Brous 56:46

18d 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…

1
🔒 Episode 236: Growing Beyond Near Enemy Tendencies in the Context of LDS Faith [Part II of IV]-EXCLUSIVE 1:12:17

19d ago1:12:17

1:12:17

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…

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Episode 186: What Happened to Community? | A Conversation with Candice Wendt 1:06:46

22d ago1:06:46

1:06:46

“Life as a member offers relatively little social time or enjoyment,” writes Candice Wendt. “Being in the ward is mostly about passive listening and being told to follow leaders and go to the temple. [...] You’re more likely to get asked to clean our very dirty building than be asked to dinner." In episode 186, Candice joins Susan and Cynthia for a…

1
Episode 235: A Study of the Near Enemy and its Relevance in Spiritual Systems [Part I of IV] 33:23

23d ago33:23

33:23

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 …

1
220. Pioneering Peace - A Conversation with Eboo Patel 56:57

25d 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 48:54

26d ago48:54

48:54

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 185: Does That Scripture Mean What You Think it Means? | A Dance with the Parable of the Talents 57:54

29d ago57:54

57:54

Rob Bell describes interacting with scripture like this: there’s the black ink (what’s written on the page), then there’s the white space around it (where we dance with what’s written). In Episode 185, Susan and Cynthia take on what Latter-day Saints commonly call the Parable of the Talents, from Matthew 25. It’s a conversation about grace out of h…

1
Episode 233: Spiritual Scrupulosity [Part III of IV]-How Religious Teachings May Impact Anxiety and Self-worth 48:46

1M ago48:46

48:46

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…

1
219. What's the Future of Women at Church? A Conversation with Neylan McBaine and Bethany Brady Spalding 59:57

1M 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…

1
🔒 Episode 232: Spiritual Scrupulosity [Part II of IV]-On Confession, Sexuality, and Personal Authority 1:03:20

1M ago1:03:20

1:03:20

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 184: Am I Allowed to Change? | A Conversation with Jana Spangler 59:55

1M ago59:55

59:55

Many of us make temple covenants as young adults. Are we expected to have the same perspectives and priorities at 80 that we had at 18? In a church that emphasizes concepts like “staying on the covenant path” and “enduring to the end,” it can be hard to know how to navigate when our life experiences invite us to grow in new directions. In Episode 1…

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Episode 231: Spiritual Scrupulosity [Part I of IV]-Healing our Ideas about a Disappointed God 54:43

1M ago54:43

54:43

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…

1
218. A New Book Every Time - A Conversation with Bob Rees 42:59

1M 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…

1
🔒 Episode 230: An Analysis of Conflicting Messages on Career & Motherhood 1:17:58

1M ago1:17:58

1:17:58

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…

1
Episode 183: What About Anger? 59:37

1M ago59:37

59:37

We asked, you answered! Of all emotions, anger might be the least acceptable for Latter-day Saint women. Many of us are not comfortable being around it, expressing it, talking about it, or even feeling it. But when we choose silence over healthy dialogue, what’s the toll on our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being? In Episode 183, Cynthia …

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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

1M 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 45:43

1M ago45:43

45:43

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! 3:54

1M ago3:54

3:54

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 LATTER DAY STRUGGLES RESOURCES: SUBSCRIBE TO FRIDAYS HERE! DON'T MISS A SINGLE WORD! : https://www.buzzsprout.com/2363568/subscribe 3-step (2 minute) process: 1: Click link and set up your account 2: Sel…

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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 39:46

2M ago39:46

39:46

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 182: The Harder the Better | A Conversation with Valerie Hamaker 1:05:39

2M ago1:05:39

1:05:39

Does devotion always require walking uphill? What’s the difference between good-hard and bad-hard? Do some Church members see the difficulty of a thing as a measure of the righteousness it requires? Has “more suffering and sacrifice” somehow come to mean “higher and holier” in the LDS narrative? In Episode 182, Valerie Hamaker of Latter-day Struggl…

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Episode 227: The Harder the Better? with "At Last She Said It!" 1:04:32

2M ago1:04:32

1:04:32

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

2M 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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🔒 Episode 226: The Feminine Divine In-Depth [Part IV]: Branching Out: How the Tree of Life Symbolizes Spiritual Growth and Balance 56:18

2M ago56:18

56:18

Subscriber-only episode In this final episode of this four-part series featuring the beautiful book "The Mother Tree", Valerie and guest author Kathryn Knight Sonntag conclude their conversation linking the symbolism of the tree to the balance and unity found when femininity and masculinity are allowed to occupy collaborative wholeness. This episod…

1
Episode 181: What About the Sacrament? 1:09:51

2M ago1:09:51

1:09:51

As the centerpiece of Sunday worship and an ordinance pointing directly to Jesus Christ, the sacrament holds deep meaning for many Latter-day Saints. In Episode 181, Cynthia and Susan turn their grace-peddling to a conversation about the sacrament. What matters more: worthiness, or willingness? When did this simple remembrance of Jesus become about…

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How do I decide on a career that I won’t later regret or wish I had taken a different path? 26:36

2M ago26:36

26:36

In this episode I meet with Kellice and answer the question “How do I decide on a career that I won’t later regret or wish I had taken a different path?” Kellice wants to choose a sustainable career to support herself and her boys, but she isn’t sure where to start. How can she be sure she isn’t going to make the wrong decision? I challenge Kellice…

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Episode 225: The Feminine Divine In-Depth [Part III]: Finding Feminine Wisdom through the Cycles of Nature 47:06

2M ago47:06

47:06

In this enlightening part three [of a four-part series] Valerie and special guest author Kathryn Sonntag delve deeper into the enriching concepts presented in "The Mother Tree: Discovering the Love and Wisdom of Our Divine Mother." In this episode they continue using the metaphor of a tree to help us understand how to find personal wholeness throug…

1
215. Finding the Still Point in Tension — John Kesler and Thomas McConkie 1:07:56

2M ago1:07:56

1:07:56

This week we’re joined by our good friend and contributor to Faith Matters, Thomas McConkie, along with his longtime mentor and friend, John Kesler. In many ways, Thomas and John's paths were mirror images of each other until they eventually collided. John Kesler developed an awareness and life practice called IPP or Integral Polarity Practice that…

1
🔒 Episode 224: The Feminine Divine In-Depth [Part II]: The Power of Feminine "Root Work" in a Church Privileging Masculine Energy 48:32

2M ago48:32

48:32

Subscriber-only episode In this enlightening part two [of a four-part series] Valerie and special guest author Kathryn Knight Sonntag delve deep into the integration of the feminine divine, exploring its essential role in achieving spiritual wholeness within the context of the LDS Church. In this series they discuss Kathryn's book "The Mother Tree,…

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