MIDDLE GROUND - Real Conversations on Faith, Identity & Becoming — Through Brynne's LDS Lens of Curiosity, Love and Doubt

In this episode, I sit down with relationships coach Sara Payne to talk about what to do when you're not on the same page with your spouse, whether that's religion, parenting, or money. Sara challenges the assumption that not being on the same page is even a problem, sharing the mind-blowing idea from Jennifer Finlayson-Fife that we're all in mixed-faith marriages. We discuss the fear of empty chairs in heaven, and Sara shares how trusting in a God who is always win-win changes everything. I get vulnerable about money dynamics in my own marriage and we dig into why hard conversations feel so charged. Sara's core advice is to shift your goal from getting your partner on your page to genuinely understanding them, use resentment as a window instead of something to hide, and remember you're on the same team. She also reframes repentance simply as changing your mind.

Brynne’s Resources:

✨Faith In Process Community: https://www.brynneerickson.com/waitlist

Facebook: @Brynne Erickson - my public page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573316550355

Instagram: @brynne_erickson

https://www.instagram.com/brynne_erickson/

Threads: @brynne_erickson

https://www.threads.com/@brynne_erickson?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Sara Payne's Resources:
Website: https://sarapayne.com/

Instagram: @sarapaynecoaching

https://www.instagram.com/sarapaynecoaching/

📕 It Just Takes One: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Takes-One-Create-Relationships-ebook/dp/B0FBSB6YSC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2Q4MJR3DLC23A&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Rib63jK6JHhouBmMxZd_sEe39Tl5JTzd3RS_IYyxa287FhVRnd63TxLCvML6rhH_sOWT9SF53Lsytng_Ocipo5g2OemZUzkVCALxf8q0mucFuR3ta9jdtoqvoLSwV_-G0WktKtUmyq2s4JEpJfBrtXsu4Hw9S9OzTCK3FnYKptj0igcpEONYsRfHLj39nB0_4QAar9b4ksAoSp3kL3t3ODc2YXuvwZ-yEs9q_iinlsU.37QfdEFgyptG_o9ohuMSc2c9S-ZcYmhGMGjWaKR8jcY&dib_tag=se&keywords=it+just+takes+one&qid=1785879724&sprefix=it+just+takes+one%2Caps%2C222&sr=8-1

Chapters:
01:05 Navigating Differences in Relationships
03:53 Understanding Mixed-Faith Marriages
06:50 The Role of Faith and Beliefs in Relationships
09:54 The Power of Love Over Fear
12:53 Embracing Imperfection in Parenting
15:52 The Challenge of Financial Discussions
18:50 Finding Common Ground in Disagreements
30:34 Understanding Each Other's Perspectives
32:02 Navigating Financial Conversations
35:10 Self-Awareness in Relationships
36:41 Separating Personal Feelings from Partner's Stress
39:23 Finding Common Ground
42:21 The Importance of Vulnerability
45:47 Win-Win Solutions in Relationships

This week, I talk about something I've wrestled with a lot as a stay at home mom and naptime entrepreneur: resentment. When I give and give without honoring what I want, I fall into anger and frustration. But when I ALSO tend to my own needs, I actually want to show up for my people. The reframe that changed everything is reminding yourself you don't have to do any of it. You don't have to feed your family. They could figure it out. But you actually want to. That small shift gives your power back and moves you from resentment into problem solving mode. I share my three questions for any task I'm resistant to: how can I make this as easy, as fun, and as sustainable as possible? It's not about being a martyr. This life is about both giving and receiving, and you deserve to find your balance too.

Brynne’s Resources:

✨Faith In Process Community: https://www.brynneerickson.com/waitlist

Facebook: @Brynne Erickson - my public page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573316550355

Instagram: @brynne_erickson

https://www.instagram.com/brynne_erickson/

Threads: @brynne_erickson

https://www.threads.com/@brynne_erickson?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: The importance of self-awareness in caregiving and entrepreneurship

01:58 Recognizing the trap of resentment and how to avoid it

03:50 Reclaiming your power by evaluating what you truly want to do

06:14 Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship: a personal journey

08:11 The role of curiosity and problem-solving in managing daily routines

10:08 Living with flexibility and embracing imperfection

10:52 Final thoughts: empowering yourself and others through self-awareness

In this episode, I sit down with Angela Nusbaum who helps people heal the connection between their body and spirit so they can empower their soul. Angela shares how she discovered her gifts as an empath as a child, shut them down, and then rediscovered them through massage therapy school where she learned Reiki, crystal healing, tantra, breathwork, and body mapping. She shares a powerful story of a client with debilitating migraines who had seen every specialist and been told nothing was wrong, who healed through emotional release work. We discuss body mapping, a practice where your body's proportions and symmetry literally serve as a map to your spiritual gifts and purpose. Angela shares her four pillars: you were created by a divine being, designed for a specific mission, designed to succeed, and your agency is paramount. We also talk about trauma, frequency, crystals, and why truly knowing who you are means other people's opinions stop defining you.

Brynne’s Resources:

✨Faith In Process Community: https://www.brynneerickson.com/waitlist

Facebook: @Brynne Erickson - my public page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573316550355

Instagram: @brynne_erickson

https://www.instagram.com/brynne_erickson/

Threads: @brynne_erickson

https://www.threads.com/@brynne_erickson?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Angela’s Resources:

Website: https://empoweredsoul.me/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angela.nusbaum.7

Instagram: @angelanusbaum 

https://www.instagram.com/angelanusbaum/?hl=en

Chapters
01:06 Introduction to Healing and Empowerment
03:19 The Connection Between Body and Spirit
06:22 The Journey into Holistic Healing
09:18 Defining Faith and Truth
12:28 Agency and Personal Growth
15:10 Exploring Modalities of Healing
17:37 Understanding Body Mapping and Sensation
21:06 The Role of Agency in Family Dynamics
24:03 Embracing Individuality in Parenting
27:03 Finding Freedom in Personal Choices
34:07 The Impact of Parental Influence
36:54 Navigating Life's Unexpected Turns
40:06 Understanding Trauma and Perception
42:33 The Power of Frequency and Healing
45:36 Authenticity in Faith and Relationships
48:36 Embracing Our True Selves
51:41 Healing Journeys and Personal Growth
54:35 Empowerment Through Connection

In this episode I share the backstory behind Faith in Process, the online community I'm creating for Latter-day Saints navigating faith expansion, deconstruction, or reconstruction. It started in 2019 when I began exploring where LGBTQ+ individuals fit in the LDS church, which led me to resources from Ben Schilaty, Charlie Bird, and others. Then my youngest brother stepped away from the church, my middle brother came out as gay, and my parents were serving as mission leaders in the Philippines. I felt completely alone with no one who understood what I was going through. That loneliness is what inspired this community. Faith in Process is an async online space where we study gospel principles monthly, ask the hard questions you wouldn't say at church, and find people who get it. Founding membership is $7 a month for the first three months. Join the wait list at Brynneerickson.com/waitlist.

Brynne’s Resources:

✨Faith In Process Community: https://www.brynneerickson.com/waitlist

Facebook: @Brynne Erickson - my public page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573316550355

Instagram: @brynne_erickson

https://www.instagram.com/brynne_erickson/

Threads: @brynne_erickson

https://www.threads.com/@brynne_erickson?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Brynne's Community and Mission
00:31 Background: Faith, LGBTQ+ Questions, and Personal Journey
01:25 Influences and Real-Life Experiences in Faith
02:20 Family, Faith, and Navigating Identity
03:09 Supporting Family Members and Personal Growth
04:09 Challenges of Physical Distance and Connection
05:24 Turning to Faith and Community for Support
06:54 Sharing Experiences and Finding Community Online
07:52 From Inklings to Faith in Process Community
08:50 Creating an Online, Asynchronous Faith Group
09:45 Studying Gospel Principles and Facilitating Discussions
11:12 The Power of Speaking Questions and Building Confidence
12:28 Faith as a Process of Evolution and Personal Growth
13:25 Invitation to Join Faith in Process Community
14:49 Details on Membership, Cost, and Future Plans

In this episode, I sit down with my neighbor Rob Clark who shares his faith journey for the first time ever. Rob grew up in a very religious LDS household where church was a requirement, not an option. He served a mission in Taiwan without a testimony, hoping he'd get one in the field. He never felt that still small voice but told himself "you know it's true, just go work." His shift started in his thirties when the church changed the Pearl of Great Price from translated to inspired work. He realized truth doesn't change. Rob spent many years hiding his disbelief, wrestling with how to disappoint his parents whose hopes and dreams centered on his church activity. He finally came out after therapy helped him realize he couldn't live hidden for 50 more years. Rob is now optimistically agnostic, in a mixed-faith marriage, and hoping there's a higher power but believing we evolved. His purpose: make life better for everyone because this might be it.

Brynne’s Resources:
✨Faith In Process Community: https://www.brynneerickson.com/waitlist

Facebook: @Brynne Erickson - my public page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573316550355

Instagram: @brynne_erickson

https://www.instagram.com/brynne_erickson/

Threads: @brynne_erickson

https://www.threads.com/@brynne_erickson?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Rob's Background
01:03 Growing Up in a Religious Household
07:11 Rob's Mission Experience and Doubts
17:42 Deciding to Leave the Church
27:41 Telling His Parents and Family
36:57 Reflections on Good and Bad from Church Life
43:53 The Journey of Leaving and Its Challenges
51:29 Rob's Views on Higher Power and Truth
59:28 The Purpose of Life According to Rob
01:03:46 Rob's Final Thoughts and Advice

This week, I share something I taught my seven-year-old son tonight during his taekwondo test prep. He was overwhelmed and frustrated because something hard was new to him. I taught him to talk directly to his brain and say: I know you're scared, but we've never done this before and that's okay. We're going to figure this out anyway. This same practice stops my own spiraling and helps me think clearly instead of emotionally reacting. Your brain's job is to protect you and it offers thoughts all day long but you don't have to take every single one. I also address what this means if you're religious and wondering about thoughts from the Holy Ghost or the Spirit. No matter where a thought comes from, it deserves your attention and evaluation before you accept it. You get to decide which thoughts and beliefs to keep and which ones to let go.

Brynne’s Social:

Facebook: @Brynne Erickson - my public page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573316550355

Instagram: @brynne_erickson

https://www.instagram.com/brynne_erickson/

Threads: @brynne_erickson

https://www.threads.com/@brynne_erickson?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the power of self-talk
00:12 The brain's role in protecting you
00:22 Teaching children about thoughts and feelings
01:06 Overcoming frustration in learning
02:04 Talking to your brain: a practical example
03:30 Self-talk as a tool for self-care
05:19 Evaluating the source of your thoughts
06:26 The importance of intentional beliefs
07:56 Changing beliefs and evolving your mind

In this episode, I sit down with clinical psychologist Dr. Cameron Staley to talk about something rarely discussed openly: pornography, compulsive eating, gaming, and the behaviors we use to escape uncomfortable emotions. Dr. Staley shares his groundbreaking research showing pornography viewing does not activate the brain like substance addiction. The term addiction itself is not even a scientific diagnosis. Calling yourself an addict actually maintains the behavior over time by making it central to your identity. Instead, unwanted pornography viewing is a compulsion driven by shame and emotion avoidance, and the same is true for sugar, food, gaming, and scrolling. All behavior is purposeful. The question is what are you escaping? We discuss how sin is really disconnection from yourself, others, and God, and how repentance means turning back toward connection. Dr. Staley shares his self-directed ACT therapy program Life After Pornography and his book Confessions of an LDS Sex Researcher.

Brynne’s Social:

Facebook: @Brynne Erickson - my public page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573316550355

Instagram: @brynne_erickson

https://www.instagram.com/brynne_erickson/

Threads: @brynne_erickson

https://www.threads.com/@brynne_erickson?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Dr. Cameron Staley's Resources:
Website: https://cameronstaley.com/

TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNGg5SMcyhI

Program: Life After Pornography (self-directed, 10 sessions of ACT therapy, under $100, 90%+ reduction in viewing)
https://cameronstaley.com/programs/

Book: Confessions of an LDS Sex Researcher - https://cameronstaley.com/2024-book-release/

One-on-one counseling: Available virtually across the country - https://cameronstaley.com/programs/

Chapters
01:05 Introduction to the Conversation on Pornography and Sexuality
04:09 Understanding the Role of Intent in Pornography Use
06:45 Curiosity as a Tool for Self-Reflection
09:48 Navigating Religious Beliefs and Pornography
12:42 The Misconception of Addiction vs. Compulsion
15:48 The Impact of Language on Identity and Behavior
18:28 Reframing Sexuality and Agency
21:25 The Importance of Education in Sexuality
24:31 The Role of Emotions in Sexual Behavior
27:37 Defining Buffers and Coping Mechanisms
31:21 Understanding Our Relationship with Sugar and Compulsions
36:20 Navigating Emotions and Their Physical Manifestations
41:45 The Importance of Regulation and Connection
47:34 Redefining Sin and Connection in Our Lives
50:45 Resources for Overcoming Buffers and Addictions

In this solo episode recorded in my garage during summer vacation, I share a lesson I'm really excited about: the difference between beliefs and biases. A belief is a conclusion you drew over time that feels like fact, held up like a table by legs of evidence. The good news is beliefs can be changed by knocking out those legs. Biases are different. They're filters installed before you even had language, absorbed from culture, family, and environment operating automatically before conscious thought. I share my personal example of carrying a deep bias that thinness equals being loved and beautiful. I believed intellectually that anyone is worthy of love in any body, but I couldn't feel it for myself. That gap wasn't a failure of belief work. It was evidence of a bias running deeper than belief can reach. I give you four ways to start working on biases: look for the gap, trace it back, expose yourself to contradiction, and get support.

Brynne’s Social:

Facebook: @Brynne Erickson - my public page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573316550355

Instagram: @brynne_erickson

https://www.instagram.com/brynne_erickson/

Threads: @brynne_erickson

https://www.threads.com/@brynne_erickson?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Chapters
00:00 Entrepreneurship in Action
03:21 Understanding Beliefs and Biases
05:54 The Nature of Biases
08:39 Personal Experiences with Biases
09:07 Deconstructing Deep-Rooted Beliefs
12:26 Strategies for Addressing Biases

In this episode the tables turn and my guest Jennifer Roskelly interviews me about my own faith journey and the heart behind Middle Ground. I share how the name came from being in the messy middle of my early thirties, navigating new beliefs while still wanting to stay connected to my church community and culture. The pivotal moment came when my brother came out as gay and my other brother stepped away from the church. I took it to God and felt overwhelming peace that my family was loved exactly as they were. I talk about how the atonement means Jesus already took care of it all, not you do everything and then he covers the rest. We discuss trusting your own intuition, the difference between the gospel and the organization, and why love supersedes every rule ever taught. My three words to the world: you are enough.

Brynne’s Social:

Facebook: @Brynne Erickson - my public page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573316550355

Instagram: @brynne_erickson

https://www.instagram.com/brynne_erickson/

Threads: @brynne_erickson

https://www.threads.com/@brynne_erickson?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Context of the Conversation
03:59 Exploring Personal Journeys and Faith
06:42 Navigating Beliefs and Community Dynamics
09:30 The Essence of the Gospel and Personal Growth
12:43 Trusting the Process and Embracing Change
15:30 Understanding Individual Purpose and Agency
18:26 The Importance of Connection and Shared Experiences
21:36 Questions of Self-Discovery and Spirituality
24:15 The Birth of 'Middle Ground' Podcast
27:05 Advice for Navigating Faith and Relationships
30:40 The Primacy of Love in Faith
33:37 Redefining Family and Spirituality
36:34 Teaching Love to the Next Generation
38:25 Meeting the Savior: A Personal Reflection
41:15 Embracing Divine Identity and Worth
44:12 The Power of Vulnerability and Connection

In this episode, I sit down with Heather Campbell to talk about her faith expansion journey. Heather shares struggling with the LDS church since primary age, feeling the lack of love in certain teachings and not feeling safe to ask questions as a child. She faked it through her teenage years and into marriage, terrified her husband wouldn't marry her after his mission if she didn't attend. Her tipping point came in her thirties when asked to teach Young Women and realizing she was betraying herself every week, choosing the comfort of others over what was best for her. Heather discusses navigating a mixed-faith marriage where her husband takes their four kids to church every Sunday while she stays home, attending only for special events. She talks about the shame that resurfaces at baptisms, teaching values without religion, and choosing yourself while still honoring loved ones. Her advice: listen to your intuition, find safe people, and lead with love.

Brynne’s Social:

Facebook: @Brynne Erickson - my public page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573316550355

Instagram: @brynne_erickson

https://www.instagram.com/brynne_erickson/

Threads: @brynne_erickson

https://www.threads.com/@brynne_erickson?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Chapters
00:00 Journey of Faith and Expansion
06:04 Childhood Struggles with Religion
10:33 Tipping Point and Personal Transformation
15:39 Navigating Family Dynamics and Church Involvement
20:32 Teaching Values Beyond Religion
26:13 Empowering Questions and Open-Mindedness
28:53 Guidance Through Love and Spirituality
30:14 The Weight of Leaving Organized Religion
32:12 Finding Your Own Beliefs
35:07 Choosing Yourself While Honoring Others
37:27 Compassion in Difficult Conversations
40:11 The Purpose of Life: Love and Growth
41:39 Advice for Navigating Doubts and Questions
43:20 Finding Safe Spaces and Support