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 Kim Garrett to talk about her experience as girls camp director and how she created an incredible experience for the young women. Kim shares how she completely shifted the approach by letting the girls have as much choice as possible; from picking their committees (activities, bonding, spiritual, and food) to choosing lip syncing over traditional skits. The theme was "Daughters of Light," and instead of "stand in the light" (which felt too checklisty and rigid), she wanted every girl to know they ARE light, no matter where they are in their testimony journey.

Kim talks about the powerful way she prepped the youth camp leaders by showing them the scene from Wicked where Glinda joins Elphaba in her quirky dance and teaching them to let go of their "coolness" and status to show up for people who are different from them. She challenged them to embrace the weird, quirky girls they'd never talk to outside of church, and the girls rose to the occasion beautifully. There was no drama, just genuine sisterhood.

We also dive into the spiritual activities she planned, like a sunset hike where girls shared how they find light in their lives, and walking back in the dark with lit-up trees representing peace, hope, and goodness. It's a beautiful conversation about empowering youth, creating inclusive spaces, and trusting girls to lead their own camp experience.

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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Sound bites:

"All is not well."

"This is their camp."

"There was no drama."

Chapters:

00:00 The Joy of Girls Camp Memories

03:24 Reflecting on Personal Camp Experiences

06:29 The Evolution of Camp Activities

09:30 Empowering Young Leaders at Camp

12:20 Facilitating Creativity and Choice

15:22 Balancing Tradition and Innovation

16:10 Daughters of Light: A Theme of Empowerment

19:21 Creating a Meaningful Camp Experience

23:22 Finding and Sharing the Light

29:34 Building a Supportive Community

34:19 Anticipating Future Camps

In this solo episode, I talk about something that's been confusing me: discerning the spirit. I saw an Instagram post about throwing away Christian books because the authors claimed to have received revelation differently than what the person believed was correct. It got me thinking, what happens when I discern the spirit in a way that doesn't agree with how my leaders or others hear it? Does that make me wrong or deceived?

As a Latter-day Saint, we believe the prophet is the mouthpiece of God, and I don't disbelieve that. But I'm working through what the actual role of a prophet is and how their inspiration differs from mine. President Nelson's "Hear Him" talk really encouraged us to seek personal guidance from Heavenly Father, and I've taken that to heart. But some of my conclusions don't fully align with church teachings, and that's been hard to reconcile.

Here's what grounds me: God knows me, He knows my heart, He knows my intent. My new beliefs bring me peace, less judgment, more love and acceptance. If I'm deceived, it sure doesn't feel that way. I talk about meditation helping me quiet the brain chatter, listening to my heart, and going by the fruits of the Spirit. I share my concept of "heavenly help," the team on the other side cheering me on. And I encourage you to find your own fallback belief when you feel overwhelmed by spiritual confusion.

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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Sound Bites

• "Does that make me wrong?"
• "It sure feels good."
• "God knows all of us."

Chapters 

00:00 Navigating Personal Beliefs and Discernment

02:39 The Role of Prophets and Personal Inspiration

05:09 Understanding Divine Communication and Heavenly Help

08:11 call to action

In this solo episode, I talk about what it's like to identify as a quitter or someone who never finishes anything. I share my own journey of starting multiple businesses; private tutoring, a gluten-free baking business run out of my 900-square-foot apartment where customers picked up orders at the playground, selling on Poshmark, even an online Korean dress boutique with my brother where we had ten 50-pound boxes shipped to my tiny apartment. None of them turned into huge success stories, but I don't see them as failures anymore.

I talk about how I used to feel weighed down by not finishing things the "right" way, and how I shifted my perspective to realize that finishing on my own terms doesn't make me a failure, it just means I learned something and moved on when it was time. I share the importance of asking yourself: Is this something I genuinely want to do? What do I need to change to make it more sustainable and fun?

I get into the power of starting small, showing yourself compassion instead of shame, and problem-solving instead of judging yourself. Whether it's business ideas or that awful cauliflower pumpkin smoothie from a diet cleanse I tried, every attempt teaches you something. My three key principles: small steps, fun, and easy as possible. I'm in this life for the long haul, and I'm excited to see who I can become and I hope you are too.

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 Embracing the Journey of Trying and Finishing

11:07 Learning from Experiences and Moving Forward

12:01 call to action

In this episode, I sit down with my uncle Kent Coleman to talk about his book "It's Not About the Mangoes" and his journey from nearly going bankrupt to owning 14 Big O Tires locations that are some of the highest-producing stores in the nation. Kent shares how he got into the tire business even though he's not a car guy at all, and the huge mistakes he made early on, like firing his best, most experienced employees just because they were the highest paid during the recession.

He talks about hitting rock bottom when his remaining team didn't care about customers, wouldn't answer phones, and sales plummeted even faster. That's when he learned the principle behind "It's Not About the Mangoes," it's about investing in people, not just looking at them as expenses. Kent shares powerful insights about creating a culture where question-asking is encouraged, where employees feel valued, and where the focus is on people over profit.

We also dive into why he wrote the book as someone who's been journaling since he was five years old, how the principles apply to everyone (not just tire people), and where he hopes to go from here, which is all about growing influence and positively impacting more lives.

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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📕Purchase Kent's book, "It's Not About the Mangoes" on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-About-Mangos-Organizational/dp/0578345684

Sound Bites:

• "It's not about the mangoes."
• "Everyone has a measure of light."
• "Love is a huge part of it."

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Kent Coleman and His Journey

02:01 The Unexpected Path to the Tire Business

04:32 Overcoming Early Struggles and Lessons Learned

07:08 The Meaning Behind 'It's Not About the Mangoes'

12:22 Finding and Nurturing People of Light

16:48 The Role of Love in Business

21:54 Encouraging a Culture of Question Asking

25:17 The Inspiration Behind Writing the Book

28:45 Future Aspirations and Impact

30:44 call to action 

In this solo episode, I talk about faith and agency—two things I used to have a rocky relationship with but now absolutely love. I share how I went through what people call a faith crisis or deconstruction, breaking down all the beliefs that once made sense and asking the hard questions. It was uncomfortable, scary, and heavy, mostly because I felt like I shouldn't be there—like doubting and questioning was somehow wrong.

But as I confided in my Heavenly Father, I came to understand this was actually a space for growth. I talk about the Stages of Faith concept and how our faith develops just like we do as humans. I share a pivotal moment when my friend Sheena asked me, "Will you just choose?" I realized I could see how God existed and how God didn't exist, and I was stuck between both. So I chose to believe—not because I had proof, but because I wanted to. Those beliefs serve me, empower me, and comfort me. And I'm okay if it doesn't turn out that way when I die.

I talk about giving myself permission to choose what I want to believe and extending that same permission to others. I don't believe there's one correct belief anymore—there are multiple ways to live this life, be blessed, and experience joy.

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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Sound Bites

• "It's part of the growth."
• "I believe in a loving God."
• "What would love do?"

Chapters

00:00 Embracing Faith and Agency

02:49 Navigating Faith Crises

05:36 The Power of Choice in Belief

07:56 Multiple Paths to Spirituality

10:14 Choosing Love and Personal Growth

10:51 call to action 

In this episode, I sit down with my little brother Ryan Liston to talk about his journey of leaving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We were both raised in traditional Latter-day Saint households, and while I'm still an active member, Ryan's path took him in a different direction. He shares his beautiful, hard, and honest story of how he went from being the "perfect" Mormon kid—seminary president, never missed scripture reading, went a whole year without listening to secular music—to questioning everything he believed.

Ryan talks about how his faith crisis started at BYU around age 21-22, those moments on his mission when he questioned if he actually believed what he was teaching, and the long process of coming to terms with not believing in God anymore. He shares about the grief of losing his belief, the loneliness of that transition, and how he's found peace on the other side. We get into resources that helped him like "Stages of Faith" by James Fowler and "Navigating Mormon Faith Crisis" by Thomas McConkie. Ryan's advice is powerful: let your experience happen, give yourself compassion, and choose to end up peaceful and loving even when the journey is hard.

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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Resources Ryan References:

• Faith Matters Podcast and Foundation

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/faithmattersfoundation/

• Stages of Faith, by James W. Fowler
• Navigating Mormon Faith Crisis, by Thomas Whirthlin McConkie

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ryan's Journey

04:57 The Beginning of Doubt

11:40 Questioning Faith and Identity

16:45 Seeking Professional Help

21:54 Rebuilding Identity and Values

25:59 Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations

27:01 Embracing Life's Experiences

31:40 Navigating Spiritual Uncertainty

34:30 Coping with Hardships

41:11 Resources for Personal Growth

48:34 Choosing Your Emotional Journey

51:48 call to action

In this episode, I introduce myself and share why I started the Middle Ground podcast. I talk about my journey from elementary school teacher to stay-at-home mom, and how that transition launched me into discovering who I am and who I want to be. I get into the pivotal moment around 2019 when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made some announcements about the LGBTQ community that didn't settle well with me, and how that sent me down a path of reading, listening to podcasts, and trying to understand different perspectives.

I share how I realized I couldn't go back to being the person I was before—my beliefs had changed, my way of thinking had shifted. So I had to figure out if I was leaving the church or finding a way to participate as this new version of me. That's where I am today, truly in the middle. I explain my mission for this podcast: to create a space where people can share their stories without bias or judgment, where we can foster curiosity, unity, and love through honest conversations. Because ultimately, we're all just trying to figure out this life and decide what we want to believe.

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 Middle Ground

02:37 Journey of Self-Discovery

05:26 Creating a Space for Conversations