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.