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

In this Pep Talk, I pulled over in my car to tell you something important. I've started a new health and wellness phase again, and that's the whole point. You don't quit. You start over and over and over again. Life gets hard, complicated, busy, messy. There will be seasons when you pause. But you keep trying again and again. Find people who support you through it all, and when someone says "you've already tried this," you say "yeah, and I'm going to try it again." You know who can be there for you unconditionally? You. You can be your biggest cheerleader 100% of the time. You've got your entire life to work on this. The person you already are is enough, worthy, lovable. You don't have to change a single thing. But discovering who you want to be and taking the next step makes life more invigorating. I'm on your team. You've got this.

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

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In this episode, I sit down with Jackie and Jeff from the Other Side Academy and Village, a nonprofit helping people coming out of incarceration, homelessness, or addiction through a two and a half year program focused on whole person behavioral change. Jackie shares 25 years of on and off homelessness, introduced to drugs young, losing her daughter, and finding relief when arrested because she'd have a bed and meals. Jeff talks about living in canyons for six years after getting stabbed, calling cops on himself to go to jail, and writing a letter to the Academy. They explain real community means people holding you up while also expecting your best, not accepting you as lesser. They discuss misconceptions like homeless people don't want help or are dangerous. Both are now coaches helping others discover who they want to become. The Academy is self-sustaining through Other Side Moving, thrift stores, and donuts.

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

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The Other Side Academy and Village

Donate - https://www.theothersideacademy.com/donate

https://theothersidevillage.com/donate-now/

More information - https://www.theothersideacademy.com/

https://theothersidevillage.com/

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Other Side Academy and Village
04:34 Understanding Real Community
10:34 The Journey to Acceptance and Change
16:30 Personal Stories of Transformation
24:12 The Impact of Upbringing on Life Choices
30:08 Reflections on Drug Use and Recovery
33:52 Embracing Mistakes and Unlearning Behaviors
37:24 Focusing on the Present and Building Foundations
39:19 Roles and Responsibilities in the Community
39:40 Common Misconceptions About Homelessness
42:11 Understanding Fear and Misunderstanding
44:54 The Balance of Acknowledging and Embracing Brokenness
46:17 Reframing Regrets and Learning from the Past
49:39 Redefining Purpose and Self-Discovery
55:35 The Goodness of People and the Power of Change
57:17 The Importance of Love and Compassion
59:27 Social Enterprises and Community Outreach

In this mini episode, I talk about how feelings are just information. Having a hard day doesn't mean you're failing. Crying in your car doesn't mean you're falling apart. Feeling angry, sad, or overwhelmed does not mean something has gone wrong. It means you're alive and paying attention. I share a story from my guest Mindy Cope who got a spider bite that made her foot swell up purple and black. Instead of spiraling, she wrote a poem about the spider and found gratitude in the colors. Her husband walked in and offered to help beautifully. What she thought was happening to her was actually happening for her. Negative thoughts and feelings are like an alarm bell signaling you've started believing something untrue about yourself. The alarm is a gift from your inner knowing saying let's get curious. Your affirmation: I can feel this and still be okay. My feelings are information, not my identity.

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

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Chapters
00:00 Understanding Feelings as Information
03:46 Reframing Negative Emotions
05:00 Embracing the Complexity of Emotions

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Jennifer Roskelly for a deep conversation about faith, scripture, and the spark of Christ within each of us. Jennifer shares her journey from age 15 asking "If Joseph Smith can see God face to face, why can't I?" to discovering profound truths in literal scripture interpretation. She explains how perfection actually means complete or whole, not flawless, referencing how God called Job a perfect servant. We discuss the biological spark of light when sperm meets egg, how the heart is the first organ formed and grows the brain, and Jennifer's belief that our bodies can change through faith to endure Christ's presence. She shares her one rule for truth: if it excludes anyone, it's not of Christ. Her message to the world: you are worthy, you are enough, let the light inside yourself define who you are.

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

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Jennifer's Resources:
The Parables of Jesus - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=parables+of+jesus

Lost Gospels of Thomas - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=lost+gospels+of+thomas

Pistis Sophia - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pistis+sophia

The Doctrine of Christ - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual

The Lost Gospels of Mary Magdalene - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=lost+gospels+mary+magdalene

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Friendship Origins
03:58 Jennifer's Spiritual Upbringing
06:47 Questions and Doubts in Faith
09:56 Seeking Enlightenment and Connection
12:50 The Role of Faith and Personal Growth
15:39 Understanding the Nature of Christ
19:00 The Concept of Earning Salvation
22:02 The Journey of Self-Discovery
24:49 The Future of Humanity and Faith
27:56 Finding Truth in Scriptures
31:33 Understanding Worth and Value in Faith
32:58 The Concept of Life and Death
34:55 The Role of Dreams and Spiritual Insights
37:03 The Spark of Christ Within Us
40:08 Abraham's Test and Symbolism of Faith
42:33 The Science of Life and Spirituality
44:58 Becoming Like Christ
51:49 Judgment, Mercy, and Faith
54:35 Worship and Community
56:22 The Message of Worthiness

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Kristi Garcia to talk about her poetry book Women Who Knew, which gives voices to biblical women telling their own stories. Kristi shares how the book poured out of her in three months lying in bed next to her toddler, starting with a poem called "Mary's Response" to the song "Mary Did You Know?" She reads Sarah's Heartache about infertility and waiting. We discuss how God meets women where they are (in the kitchen, at the well, rocking babies) versus calling men to mountaintops, and how women's bodies were designed on purpose with heightened senses to meet God through physical presence. Kristi introduces her concept of inner authority and higher authority being the same power in two different channels, like a lighthouse's upper and lower lights. She's writing a new book called Feminine Discipleship about reclaiming wholeness without losing yourself to find God.

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

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Kristi’s References: 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kristigarcia.speaks/

• Join her poem of the month club, newsletter and buy her book “Women Who Knew,” via her link on Instagram. 

📕Women Who Knew - https://www.amazon.com/Women-Who-Knew-faithful-fearless/dp/B0FLLHC2CB

 Key Topics
Feminine discipleship and biblical women
The power of poetry in spiritual growth
Inner authority and trusting oneself in faith

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Kristi Garcia
04:08 Balancing Life and Priorities
07:06 Empowering Women Through Poetry
10:19 Exploring the Theme of Infertility
13:01 The Heroine's Journey
15:52 The Power of Female Experience
19:00 Writing Process and Inspiration
22:00 Lessons from Women in Scripture
25:02 Reclaiming Female Spirituality
27:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
32:23 Exploring Faith and Divine Communication
34:58 The Journey of Self-Trust
37:49 Feminine Discipleship and Inner Authority
42:43 Reclaiming Wholeness in Faith
48:34 Navigating Organized Religion and Personal Beliefs
55:51 Understanding God’s Love and Authority

In this episode recorded on Easter Sunday during general conference, I share why I didn't actively watch. I didn't want to do mental gymnastics sifting through what resonated versus what didn't. I talk about my aunt's advice to focus on who she wants to be rather than combating others' beliefs. I share how I get most frustrated when I disagree with something but haven't formulated what I do believe yet. I reread the CES letter (anti-Mormon literature) and it didn't ruffle my feathers this time like it did before when doubt felt debilitating. What I thought was Satan was actually my brain trying to protect me from uncertainty. I'm questioning whether we're acted upon by external forces or if the power is already within us, believing in universal collective energy. I encourage you to focus on what you do want to believe rather than proving what you don't.

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

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Chapters

00:00 Reflections on Easter and General Conference

03:14 Navigating Personal Beliefs and External Influences

05:58 Understanding Emotions and Their Role

09:10 Revisiting Doubts and Building Confidence

11:59 The Power of Collective Energy and Attraction

14:55 Embracing the Journey of Self-Discovery

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Heather Campbell to talk about her journey with health and fitness. Heather shares how she shifted from punishing herself to approaching fitness through self-love instead. We discuss how motivation comes and goes but discipline is what builds consistency, why sustainable weight loss is slow (despite what the fitness industry wants you to believe), and how 80% of disease comes from unhealthy habits. Heather explains her nutrition guide and her six-week Elevate program with at-home workouts, meal plans, and a supportive community. We talk about giving yourself grace during different life phases, learning that calorie deficit doesn't mean starving yourself, and how showing up for yourself (even if it's just 50% some days) compounds over time. Heather emphasizes that taking care of yourself through nutrition and exercise is the highest form of self-respect.

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

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Heather Campbell:
Instagram: @wildmoonfitness
https://www.instagram.com/wildmoonfitness/
✨Elevate Program and other resources
https://stan.store/wildmoonfitness1?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnMtfExOC6CXn4kA28wyItEnyle1uA5dA6FTTUoQf2vnMIzoKwoXP2Hjttyyw_aem_UMX5dRXiBK848AnBtj_HpA

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Friendship
02:09 Heather's Journey into Health and Fitness
04:55 Body Image and Diet Culture
06:19 Mindset Shift: From Punishment to Self-Love
08:27 Overcoming Societal Pressures
11:18 The Importance of Mindset in Fitness
12:36 The Slow Journey to Sustainable Health
14:03 Focusing on Feelings Over Numbers
15:29 Finding Balance in Nutrition
17:52 Motivation vs. Discipline
21:19 The Role of Willpower in Health
24:02 The Ripple Effect of Healthy Habits
26:46 The Impact of Nutrition on Mental Health
29:47 Small Changes, Big Differences in Nutrition
31:03 Understanding Caloric Needs and Nutrition Basics
33:27 The Journey of Self-Care and Body Acceptance
35:43 Introducing the Elevate Program
40:34 Creating a Supportive Community for Moms
42:58 Finding Balance in Fitness and Motherhood

In this episode, I share how I intentionally stopped folding my kids' laundry and it's been liberating. I was tired of folding everything perfectly only to have them pull out multiple shirts, leave them on the floor, and create piles I couldn't tell were clean or dirty. So I stopped. Now I taught my boys to sort their own clothes and shove them in drawers. Yes, there are wrinkles. No, I don't care. And guess what? The wrinkles disappear throughout the day anyway. For my baby, I literally keep a clean laundry basket and a dirty laundry basket side by side and pick out his clothes each day. It's been amazing. I remember seeing a mom get shamed online for doing a bin system, and I just think that's so unnecessary. If you need permission to let something go and simplify your life, here it is. You got this.

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

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Chapters

00:00 Reevaluating Laundry Routines

04:01 Empowerment Through Simplification

In this episode, I have a deep conversation with Cami Sanders about our faith journeys, truth, and navigating doubt. Cami shares how she's never felt like she was in a "faith crisis" but rather a "faith expansion," constantly seeking truth from multiple sources while keeping her roots in Mormonism. She introduces the fixed foot and searching foot metaphor, where you plant your foot in the doctrine with the deepest roots and then expand to gather truth from everywhere else.

We talk about how God has spoken to all people throughout history, not just a tiny percentage in the LDS church. Cami shares her practice of lectio divina for studying scripture, a four-step process of reading, meditating, wrestling with God, and letting it change you. She talks honestly about reconciling hard church history like Joseph Smith's polygamy and Brigham Young's racist policies.

Cami shares a powerful dream she had six years ago about a giant black cube with openings representing different religions and philosophies. She saw Mormonism as the largest window for her, but a man in a suit was blocking it. A woman's voice said "He needs to move. You need to move him," leading her to get a tattoo of a square with a circle inside, representing where earth and heaven meet. We discuss how to separate the institutional church from personal spirituality, and how love is the ultimate truth that overlaps in every religion and philosophy.

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 Exploring Faith and Spirituality
03:49 The Journey of Faith Expansion
06:56 Childhood Influences and Early Beliefs
09:57 Diverse Experiences in Religion
12:51 Truth and Its Many Facets
15:50 The Nature of Truth and Knowledge
18:46 Understanding Love and Charity
21:41 Navigating Doubt and Certainty
24:41 The Role of Scripture in Personal Growth
27:38 Sources of Truth and Historical Context
30:25 Revisiting Church History and Personal Beliefs
36:25 Belief and Truth in Religion
38:51 Agency and Personal Connection
41:00 The Nature of Religion and Learning
43:14 Exploring Racial Inequality in Faith
46:27 The Role of Prophets and Leadership
48:44 Empathy and Understanding in Spirituality
50:53 A Transformative Dream Experience
01:00:15 Navigating Systemic and Spiritual Aspects of Faith

In this episode, I'm celebrating one year of the Middle Ground podcast and sharing why I started it. I talk about how this came together—from taking a life coaching course that required launching a podcast to that spiritual prompting that ended my Inklings group and led me to start my own community for friends with big questions about faith.

What started as a space for questioning Latter-day Saints has evolved into something broader. Middle Ground is the space between who you were and who you're becoming. My job is to help you figure out who you want to be and make sense of your inner voice among all the outside voices. I'm sharing my vision for bringing in diverse voices from different faith backgrounds and creating honest conversations about the vulnerable things we don't usually talk about—because ultimately, I want to help us love each other better.

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

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Takeaways
February is when I conceived the idea for the podcast.
I do all my editing, recording, and research myself.
I felt driven to start a spirituality podcast.
I started my own group to discuss gospel topics.
Middle ground is the space between who you were and who you're becoming.
I want to help people live authentically.
It's a space to foster curiosity and different perspectives.
Taking ownership of our lives creates unity.
We need to love and help each other despite disagreements.
Starting with love is a great framework.

Chapters
00:00 The Birth of Middle Ground Podcast
02:55 Journey of Faith and Community Building
05:40 Exploring Spirituality and Personal Growth
08:32 Creating a Space for Diverse Perspectives
11:41 Embracing Differences and Cultivating Love