In this deeply personal episode, Sam shares her experience growing up Mormon in New York and her eventual move to Utah, where she spent 15 years navigating a much more intense religious culture. In conversation, we explore:

- Sam's unique experience as a "non-Utah Mormon" and how her family's more relaxed approach differed from the mainstream

- The cultural quirks of Mormonism that most people don't understand (like special undergarments and dating pressure)

- How personal choices about substances (coffee, alcohol, cigarettes) are influenced by religious upbringing

- The overwhelming pressure to marry young and have children in Mormon culture

- What it's like trying to build a social life in Utah when you don't fit the traditional Mormon template

- The gradual realization that trying to make it work wasn't serving her anymore

This candid conversation sheds light on the subtle ways high-demand religious cultures can shape identity and limit personal growth, even when you're trying to carve your own path within them.

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