John Moyer wrote some of the most recognizable movies in Mormon culture, including The Singles Ward, The RM, and Mormons and Mobsters. Now John and his wife, Rachelle, have taken their Mormon deconstruction and turned it into something completely different: 20 original songs for their new project, Joseph Smith Presents: Ex-Mormon the Musical.

In this episode of Blame It on Mel, John and Rachelle share what happened when the people who once helped make Mormon culture funny began questioning the religion behind it.

We get into:

• Behind the scenes of The Singles Ward, The RM, and Mormons and Mobsters

• What Mormon movies revealed about LDS culture• Why joking about Mormon culture was acceptable—but questioning doctrine was off limits

• John and Rachelle’s journey out of Mormonism

• The emotional reality of deconstructing a lifelong belief system

• Religious guilt, judgment, mental health, and relationships after leaving

• Using humor as a way to process religious trauma

• Rebuilding their identities and spirituality outside organized religion

• Exploring astrology and spirituality after Mormonism

• How John and Rachelle created 20 songs for Joseph Smith Presents: Ex-Mormon the Musical

• How AI and technology became part of their creative process

• Turning some of the most painful parts of deconstruction into comedy, music, and storytelling

Their new musical project takes the things you weren't supposed to question and puts them into songs—using humor to explore Mormon history, culture, belief, deconstruction, and life on the other side.

Find the music and learn more about Joseph Smith Presents: Ex-Mormon the Musical at JosephSmith.com.

This conversation isn't simply about why John and Rachelle left Mormonism. It's about what happens when you finally give yourself permission to examine the story you've been given—and then start writing your own music about it.

If you grew up Mormon, did you watch The Singles Ward, The RM, or Mormons and Mobsters? And what Mormon experience deserves its own song?

Subscribe to Blame It on Mel for conversations about Mormonism, deconstruction, religious culture, cults, trauma, healing, humor, and rebuilding life on your own terms.

The Mormon script tells women to obey first, question later, and call it faith. Audra Phelps reveals what happens when you finally step back, see the conditioning clearly, and realize the life you built was never fully yours. After 13 years overseas and a decade of questioning, Audra shares the deeply personal story behind leaving the church, from growing up in a high-pressure CES family in Southern California to getting kicked out of BYU, marrying young, and slowly unraveling the beliefs that shaped her identity as a wife, mother, and woman.We break down the moments that changed everything: the dehumanizing experience of needing church approval to feed her kids, the panic attacks that pushed her to question her life, and the shock of seeing the 2015 exclusion policy for children of gay parents and finally saying, “I am not Mormon.” Audra also opens up about the role of travel, different religions, and raising children outside the Mormon script. You’ll discover how she rebuilt her identity through NLP, emotional regulation, and a family mission statement, plus the practical questions every former Mormon mom wrestles with - marriage, parenting, perfectionism, boundaries, alcohol, garments, and what it means to choose your own values instead of inheriting them. This conversation is for anyone untangling Mormon conditioning, rebuilding after faith deconstruction, or trying to parent and partner without the pressure of a church-defined template. Audra’s story is honest, sharp, and unexpectedly hopeful - proof that you can leave the rules behind and still build a meaningful, peaceful life.Audra Phelps is a former school director and current coach for ex-Mormon moms. Through her Reclaimed program, her masterclass, and one-on-one coaching, she helps women reconnect with themselves, trust their own judgment, and create a life that feels aligned.Perfect for former Mormons, questioning members, and anyone ready to stop living for everyone else and start living on their own terms.

Find Audra at https://mamaaudra.com

What happens when the beliefs that shaped your entire identity no longer align with your lived experience?

In this powerful episode of Blame It on Mel, Amy shares her deeply personal journey of joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a convert, rising into leadership, and ultimately finding the courage to walk away. Together, we explore the emotional, psychological, and cultural impact of high-demand religion, religious trauma, and the long road to healing.

Amy opens up about the love-bombing she experienced as a new convert, the pressure to conform, temple experiences that left her feeling unworthy, and the heartbreak of discovering church history and doctrines that challenged everything she believed. She also shares how therapy, self-reflection, and reclaiming her own voice helped her rebuild a life grounded in authenticity rather than fear.

This conversation isn’t about attacking faith—it’s about giving space to one woman’s lived experience, asking difficult questions, and encouraging honest dialogue around religious trauma, identity, and healing.

In this episode, we discuss:

Growing up outside Mormonism and converting as a young adult

Love-bombing, belonging, and the pressure to conform

Temple experiences and feelings of shame and unworthiness

Church culture, leadership, and personal experiences of spiritual abuse

The emotional impact of losing her brother and navigating grief within the church

Discovering difficult aspects of LDS history and early church teachings

Religious trauma, therapy, and the healing process

Rebuilding identity after leaving a high-demand religion

Learning self-worth beyond religious expectations

Finding freedom, authenticity, and hope after Mormonism

Every story deserves to be heard. Whether you’re an active member, someone who has left a high-demand religion, or simply curious about the experiences of others, this episode offers an honest conversation about faith, loss, resilience, and healing.

Hot Topics💋

Mormonism • LDS Church • Religious Trauma • Faith Deconstruction • Ex-Mormon • Temple Worthiness • Spiritual Abuse • High-Demand Religion • Church History • Polygamy • CES Letter • Mental Health • Therapy • Brainspotting • Healing from Religion • Identity • Shame • Self-Worth • Cult Recovery • Leaving the LDS Church • Women in Mormonism • Blame It on Mel

What happens when a returned missionary, temple-married seminary teacher, and Church employee starts reading the very documents meant to defend the LDS Church—and discovers they raise more questions than answers?

In this episode of Blame It on Mel, we sit down with a former LDS seminary teacher who dedicated his life to teaching Mormon doctrine before eventually leaving his career, rebuilding his life, and becoming a certified sex therapist.

We discuss what it’s like to teach the Gospel Topics Essays, the CES Letter, and church history from the inside, what finally changed his mind, and why purity culture continues to impact marriages long after people leave high-demand religion.

We also dive into:

Life as a returned missionary and temple marriage

Teaching seminary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Gospel Topics Essays vs. the CES Letter

Church history that surprised even a church educator

Losing a church career after faith deconstruction

Religious trauma and sexual shame

Mormon purity culture and its impact on intimacy

Why so many LDS couples struggle with sex—even after marriage

Healing after leaving Mormonism

What healthy sexuality actually looks like

The biggest myths former Mormons believe about sex

Rebuilding relationships after faith transitions

Whether you’re an active Latter-day Saint, questioning your faith, navigating a mixed-faith marriage, or recovering from religious trauma, this conversation offers compassion, insight, and practical tools for healing.

Subscribe to Blame It on Mel for honest conversations about Mormonism, deconstruction, purity culture, relationships, and rebuilding life after high-control religion.

https://www.fullercounselinggroup.com/

Mariama grew up a Black Mormon in the UK. Served a mission. Defended the LDS Church.

Then she started asking questions.

This week on Blame It On Mel, Mariama shares her journey out of Mormonism after reading the CES Letter, the trauma from having a racist mission trainer, confronting the Church’s history of racism, and realizing that many of the explanations she was given as a Black member caused lasting harm.

We discuss Mormon racism, the priesthood and temple ban on Black members, teachings of church doctrine about becoming “white and delightsome,” Church accountability, and why she believes racism in the LDS Church is not just history—it’s still affecting members today because it has never been fully addressed or apologized for.

Mariama also shares her concerns about the LDS Church’s rapid growth in Africa, including missionary efforts in Nigeria, the role of tithing in impoverished communities, and whether potential converts are being given the full history of Black Mormon racism before joining.

We also discuss a troubling experience after she requested no contact from the Church. Despite asking Bishops not to contact her minor child directly, missionaries continued showing up and asking to speak with her young child. The question remains: in what world is it appropriate for adult strangers to seek access to a minor after a parent has explicitly revoked permission?

Silence doesn’t heal. The historical doctrine and mistreatment still shapes families, culture, and the lived experience of Black members.

🎙️ HOT TOPICS:

• Black Mormons

• Mormon racism

• Race and Mormonism

• LDS Church history

• Priesthood ban

• Temple ban

• White and delightsome teachings

• CES Letter

• Gospel Topics Essays

• Religious deconstruction

• Ex-Mormon stories

• Church accountability

• Church transparency

• Mormon Church in Africa

• Nigeria missionary work

• Tithing controversy

• Faith crisis

• Religious trauma

• Missionary boundaries

• Contacting minor children

• Parent consent

• Church culture

• Racism in religion

• Mormon Stories

• John Dehlin

• Leaving Mormonism

Annie Marie became a viral sensation by turning the quirks, contradictions, and awkward moments of Mormon culture into comedy gold. Raised in the LDS Church by a Spanish mother who met her father on his mission, Annie grew up feeling like an outsider after her parents divorced—a reality that carried its own stigma in Mormon communities.In this episode, Annie shares hilarious and eye-opening stories about growing up LDS, from church worthiness interviews and public shame to sacrament meeting mishaps and feeling constantly monitored as a teenager. We discuss why some members seemed to get away with everything while others were scrutinized for every mistake, the embarrassment of losing sacrament privileges, and how entire wards seemed to know everyone’s business.We also dive into some of the most bizarre Mormon experiences many former members still laugh about today: baptisms for the dead, strict dress and grooming standards, worthiness interviews about coffee, masturbation, and “impure thoughts,” debates over crosses, women wearing pants, working mothers, and the cultural pressure to appear perfect.Annie explains why the blonde-wigged church leader in her viral skits resonates with so many people and how humor became her way of processing experiences that once felt confusing, embarrassing, and controlling.Whether you’re LDS, ex-Mormon, Mormon-adjacent, or simply fascinated by high-demand religions, this episode is packed with stories that will make you laugh, cringe, and say, “Wait… that actually happened?”

Annie Marie became a viral sensation by turning the quirks, contradictions, and awkward moments of Mormon culture into comedy gold. Raised in the LDS Church by a Spanish mother who met her father on his mission, Annie grew up feeling like an outsider after her parents divorced—a reality that carried its own stigma in Mormon communities.

In this episode, Annie shares hilarious and eye-opening stories about growing up LDS, from church worthiness interviews and public shame to sacrament meeting mishaps and feeling constantly monitored as a teenager. We discuss why some members seemed to get away with everything while others were scrutinized for every mistake, the embarrassment of losing sacrament privileges, and how entire wards seemed to know everyone’s business.

We also dive into some of the most bizarre Mormon experiences many former members still laugh about today: baptisms for the dead, strict dress and grooming standards, worthiness interviews about coffee, masturbation, and “impure thoughts,” debates over crosses, women wearing pants, working mothers, and the cultural pressure to appear perfect.

Annie explains why the blonde-wigged church leader in her viral skits resonates with so many people and how humor became her way of processing experiences that once felt confusing, embarrassing, and controlling.

Whether you’re LDS, ex-Mormon, Mormon-adjacent, or simply fascinated by high-demand religions, this episode is packed with stories that will make you laugh, cringe, and say, “Wait… that actually happened?”

I sit down with Natasha Helfer — the sex therapist, former Mormon therapist, and outspoken advocate who was excommunicated by the LDS/Mormon church after challenging purity culture, shame-based teachings, and the harm many experience inside high-demand religion.

You may recognize her from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, but this conversation goes way deeper than reality TV. We talk about Mormonism, religious trauma, sexuality, mixed-faith marriages, mental health, women’s roles, and what happens when people start questioning the systems they were taught never to challenge.

Natasha shares her experience being publicly disciplined by the LDS church, the backlash she faced for speaking openly about sex and relationships, and why so many former members say they felt silenced, controlled, or ashamed inside Mormon culture.

This episode is hilarious, validating, uncomfortable at times, and packed with the kind of honest conversations people are often too afraid to have out loud. Take a listen — you might learn something new from this brilliant therapist!

* Mormon church controversy

* LDS church excommunication

* Natasha Helfer excommunicated

* Mormon purity culture

* Religious trauma

* Ex Mormon stories

* Mormon women speaking out

* Mormon sexuality

* Mormon shame culture

* Sex therapist Mormon

* LDS mental health

* Mormon marriage pressure

* Mormon therapy controversy

* Mormon TikTok

* Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

* Mormon wives Hulu

* Mormon women and sex

* Leaving the Mormon church

* LDS church control

* High demand religion

* Mormon guilt and shame

* Faith deconstruction

* Mixed faith marriage

* Mormon feminism

* LDS church and women

* Mormon culture secrets

* Spiritual abuse

* Mormon perfectionism

* Mormon dating and purity culture

* Post Mormon healing

* Mormon influencers

* Ex Mormon podcast

* Mormon podcast

* LDS trauma recovery

* Mormon bishops interviews

* Mormon temple worthiness

* Mormon modesty culture

* Mormon confession culture

* Mormon sexual shame

* Religious deconstruction

I sit down with Natasha Helfer — the sex therapist, former Mormon therapist, and outspoken advocate who was excommunicated by the LDS/Mormon church after challenging purity culture, shame-based teachings, and the harm many experience inside high-demand religion.

You may recognize her from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, but this conversation goes way deeper than reality TV. We talk about Mormonism, religious trauma, sexuality, mixed-faith marriages, mental health, women’s roles, and what happens when people start questioning the systems they were taught never to challenge.

Natasha shares her experience being publicly disciplined by the LDS church, the backlash she faced for speaking openly about sex and relationships, and why so many former members say they felt silenced, controlled, or ashamed inside Mormon culture.

This episode is hilarious, validating, uncomfortable at times, and packed with the kind of honest conversations people are often too afraid to have out loud. Take a listen — you might learn something new from this brilliant therapist!

* Mormon church controversy

* LDS church excommunication

* Natasha Helfer excommunicated

* Mormon purity culture

* Religious trauma

* Ex Mormon stories

* Mormon women speaking out

* Mormon sexuality

* Mormon shame culture

* Sex therapist Mormon

* LDS mental health

* Mormon marriage pressure

* Mormon therapy controversy

* Mormon TikTok

* Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

* Mormon wives Hulu

* Mormon women and sex

* Leaving the Mormon church

* LDS church control

* High demand religion

* Mormon guilt and shame

* Faith deconstruction

* Mixed faith marriage

* Mormon feminism

* LDS church and women

* Mormon culture secrets

* Spiritual abuse

* Mormon perfectionism

* Mormon dating and purity culture

* Post Mormon healing

* Mormon influencers

* Ex Mormon podcast

* Mormon podcast

* LDS trauma recovery

* Mormon bishops interviews

* Mormon temple worthiness

* Mormon modesty culture

* Mormon confession culture

* Mormon sexual shame

* Religious deconstruction

Celia LeBaron