Mormons in Media

Lorren wrote a novel that could be just that. We discuss our current favorite books, the LDS publishing landscape, the awkwardness of ward book clubs, and everything we felt and wondered while watching our BFFs Kristen Bell and Adam Brody try to make their mixed-faith relationship work.

I texted this to Jill and we thought we'd better podcast on it. Honestly it's mostly us spouting Jenny Han theories and trying to figure out which of the books we're reading can be recommended on this podcast. Bonrad sucks!!

Links to all the stuff we talked about:

- New PTA movie

- Sky Daddy

- Jill's Substack

- To All the Boys I've Loved Before

- Nora Goes Off Script

- Funny You Should Ask

- The Bodyguard (being adapted into a Netflix movie with Leighton Meester and Jared Padalecki!!)

- Liz Gilbert's new memoir

- Jacinda Ardern's memoir

- Everyone Is Lying to You (thriller that gives ballerina farm)

Less than 24 hours after President Russell M. Nelson passed away, a gunman opened fire on a Latter-day Saint congregation in Michigan. We're experiencing two very different types of mourning, and holding it all feels really raw. We talk about how President Nelson's message of peacemaking can apply on a week like this, where Mormonism fits into the Christian Right, and most happily the legacy President Nelson will leave behind.

Read more of McKay's writing in The Atlantic as well as on his new Substack.

Jen and Whitney went from SLMW to DWTS, but before they got there, half the cast was already LDS(ish). Also, RHOSLC started and TFP is the new Bachelorette and this is too many acronyms to keep track of.

Rebbie, Diana, and Mallory discuss Hulu's new show "Are You My First." It's basically your worst Singles Ward, and somehow we loved it.

If you're unfamiliar, The Soloists is a Faith Matters podcast that explores singleness broadly and within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their conversations are poignant and expansive and so important, and you should listen immediately.

Kirk tells us about his path to becoming an artist, how many people told him not to be an artist, and the promise he made to God about how he'd give back if he found success. We talk about what makes art break through the LDS bubble, how each of us defines creative success, and how critique can be a form of worship.

You can see his work IRL at Provo's Compass Gallery until September 28th.

Or check him out on:

- Instagram

- His website

- His art gallery

Rebbie talks with Neylan McBaine and Jared Cardon about our love/hate of the recent Christian Rock-ification of youth music within the church. How do we define worshipful music? How did we get from pioneer hymns to Strive To Be? And is there a world where we can feel Beyonce levels of transcendence through music at church?

The Altar is a new dating show from the people who brought us two delightfully cringey seasons of Provo's Most Eligible. For me it was nostalgic (if triggering) but for Nicole it was baffling. Listen as I try to answer sensible questions like, "why are these 21 year olds so anxious to get married?" and "what's a NCMO?" Your can watch The Altar at the link below. It's such a good time.

Watch The Altar here

Rebbie and Nicole are joined by Meg from Hive Mind to talk about the darkest two hours of reality television we've ever watched. Meg educates us on Bachelor Nation's Nick Viall, Nicole wonders why the women don't cut ties with the church, and all three of us are embarrassed by the supposed sexual loopholes people think Latter-day Saints are all about.

Temple garments have always been a buzzy topic, but these days they're on reality TV, in the NYT, and all over our Instagram feeds. Lindsey and Rebbie discuss the tricky realities of wearing garments (shade shirts, safety pins, nursing top hacks), whether "Garment Girlies" are a thing (please no), and the insanity of being jealous of another woman's religious clothing.