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Series Title: The Profound Impact of Feminine Suppression on Men & Their Churches [Part VI of VIII]]

In this heart-to-heart episode of Latter Day Struggles, Val and Nathan delve into the profound effects of patriarchal conditioning and its impact on men's abilities to become relationally and emotionally mature. 

Val and Nathan explore how little boys (raised in patriarchal cultures and churches) are often discouraged from cultivating traits fundamental to relational and emotional health due to a transmitted fear that these attributes are too feminine. They explore how this is not only a sad message for little boys, but that this messaging can be devastating for grown men who cannot experience true love and connection in their marriages and family lives. 

Don't miss a single episode of this compelling and possibly life-changing series. Val and Nathan care so much about our individual and collective healing.

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Series Title: The Profound Impact of Feminine Suppression on Men & their Churches [Part V of VIII]. 

In this compelling episode Valerie and Nathan delve deep into the subtleties of benevolent patriarchy and how it places harmful pressures on men. They explore the unrealistic expectations for men to always be strong, the emotional and psychological costs of these societal norms, and how these pressures can lead to personal and relational breakdowns. 

Once again, Nathan lays it all out there with his own life experiences and talks about the debilitating pressure that he dutifully carried until he realized that this load was not only not necessary, but that it was not helpful, loving, or good for himself or his loved ones. 

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In this enlightening episode, Valerie and Nathan tackle another tough but important topic: the insidious issue of the male superiority complex fostered by systemic patriarchy. They discuss how patriarchal structures teach boys and men, both subtly and explicitly, that they are superior to women, impacting the emotional and psychological development of all genders. 

Nathan shares personal reflections on how he now sees that what he was taught and how he was treated as a boy and man in a patriarchal world and church deeply affected his own behavior and relationships. He invites all men to confront and unlearn these biases so that men both in and around the LDS church can embody their God-given potential, which frankly cannot be realized when their characters are crippled by patriarchal ideas. 

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Series Title: The Profound Impact of Feminine Suppression on Men & their Churches [Part III of VIII]

Glad you're back! In this episode Valerie and Nathan delve into the impact that the overemphasis on masculine energy has on the ideas and practices within the LDS church because it is an institutional patriarchy. 

Today they focus on the masculine trait of competitiveness and explore how this plays out in unhealthy ways when not balanced with collaboration, its feminine counterpart. 

They then show how the masculine attribute of protection can also go sideways when not balanced with the feminine trait of emotional connection. In each case, they will offer on-the-ground examples that you might have felt uncomfortable about but never thought to connect to the deprivation of feminine energies within the church. 

This episode and series was designed to show that healthy humans and systems need the divine, balancing energies of the masculine and the feminine and that there are very real consequences when both are not honored and celebrated. 

As they say, once you see it, you cannot "not" see it. Val and Nathan are honored to be a part of this eye-opening and healing journey towards balance and personal and institutional healing. 

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Series Title: The Profound Impact of Feminine Suppression on Men and their Churches [Part II of VIII]

In this episode Val and Nathan move from the theoretical to the practical and talk about what it actually looks like on the ground when divine masculine and feminine energies are not appreciated, balanced, and celebrated. 

They use a handful of specific masculine attributes that are prominent within LDS culture and practice to demonstrate what imbalance looks like, what feminine attributes might be called upon to provide the needed counterbalance, and how all humans involved in imbalanced collectives are stagnated in their growth and development. 

If you have always wanted "words" to describe some of the "senses" you have had while on your faith journey, Val and Nathan think this series is going to blow your mind. What they have learned in the study and preparation of this series has changed their perspectives in countless ways. They are so excited to share this information with you, their podcasting family!  

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Series Title: The Profound Impact of Feminine Suppression on Men and their Churches [Part I of VIII]

Val and Nathan's series tackling the common traits connecting psychologically/spiritually underdeveloped people with men strongly socialized in a patriarchy went NUTS in response, shares, and downloads (episodes 283-288) as expected.  

Why?  Because our LDS faith expanding community seems to be STARVING to learn more about what health and wholeness looks like when women and men are both seen and treated as equals.  

No fear, there is SO MUCH to say on this topic...at least eight more episodes!  

In this opening episode of a new series diving even deeper into the on-the-ground costs exacted on men due to their patriarchal wiring, Val and Nathan start by creating a framework for what healthy masculinity and femininity could look like in every human being socialized as equals (no matter their gender!)  

This episode focuses on how masculinity/maleness and femininity/femaleness are often used interchangeably and deeply misunderstood in this patriarchal world where we've all be raised.  This episode sets the record straight on this topic as a foundation of the rest of this series.   

This entire 8-part series aims to foster a more balanced understanding of both masculine and feminine traits within all people regardless of gender, particularly within the context of the LDS faith community as we confront the relational and spiritual harm caused by patriarchal structures of every shape and size.  

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Series Title: Cutting Edge Research on the LDS Faith Journey Experience [Part II of II]

In this series' second half with the amazing author and researcher Jana Riess, you won't be disappointed in an abundance of aha moments and things to ponder after the closing music. 

Val and Jana delve deeply into several aspects of Jana's current research (yes...new book forthcoming and you're hearing about it HERE before anyone else!) and dive deep into what Jana is learning about the important role that "edge" people (on the inside or the outside) play in bridging our sadly divided space. 

Jana and Val also tackle the very complex topic of negotiating church activity during faith transitions and how members handle shifts in sexual behavior and shame. These discussions provide a comprehensive view of how personal identity and community intersect during faith transitions.

Jana's book The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church can be found HERE 

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Series Title: Cutting Edge Research on the LDS Faith Journey Experience [Part I of II]

You're in for a wonderful two episodes here as Valerie welcomes researcher and author Jana Reiss for a conversation brimming with details about Jana's current project (a forthcoming book!) centered around the diverse personal experiences of hundreds of people on the LDS faith spectrum. 

In order to not give too many spoilers for the next two episodes, you'll need to tune in to hear what she is learning in both her surveys and oral history interviews about people like yourself and also about people whom you love on different places of the spectrum. 

In this info-packed two part conversation they hit (among other things!): 

• sociopolitical influences on the LDS faith journey 
• navigating sexual ethics during/after the faith journey
• the role of "edge" dwellers on potentially helping our LDS faith spectrum learn how to talk to one another

Jana's research is in part an effort to help us wherever we are on the LDS spectrum understand one another better...which we couldn't love more here on the Latter Day Struggles podcast! 

Jana's book The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church can be found HERE

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In this recording of the  December's Office Hours special event offered to all of our "Full Content" Family of Listeners, Valerie answers a variety of questions from several listeners anxious about holiday events in the throes of the LDS faith journey.  

During the holidays (or any family event surrounded by more traditionally believing family and friends) do you find yourself worried about how to talk to people whom you've never had trouble talking to before? Do you ruminate about how much to share? How much to not share? What is appropriate to share and when?  Is it okay to ask loved ones to not just assume you are open to traditional activities that might make you uncomfortable now that your worldview is shifting?  

Who knew a family party could become so stressful?  

Listen in for some questions and responses that likely will remind you that you are not alone in the relational complications of the LDS faith journey--especially connected to family gatherings.

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When someone starts a podcast in the LDS faith journey space, one question that is often asked is this: "Have You ALWAYS had this much courage?" Join Valerie in this episode as she asks this question to friends and colleagues Susan and Cynthia of "At Last She Said It". 

In this episode Susan & Cynthia share very different stories about their journeys that led them to the airwaves. Their stories are each unique in part because their temperaments are totally different, and perhaps that is what makes their work so relatable, engaging, and inspiring. 

So whether you are an introvert (like Susan) or an extrovert (like Cynthia) there will definitely be something in this episode for you if you're looking to find that backbone and voice of your own to use in some realm of your life! 

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