Parrish The Thought

Ladies and gentlemen and whoever else is listening, welcome back to the show.

CONTENT WARNING - The opinions of the host and our guests have not been sanitized or scientifically tested so please consume at your own risk.

A special thanks to my good friend Jason Garner for introducing me to Inside Out with Ian and Jim. 

What happens when you confront difficult questions about your faith but still believe there is a place for you in the Church? In this episode with Jim and Ian, the hosts of the Inside Out Podcast, we explore the power of honest conversation, intellectual humility, and the willingness to acknowledge institutional mistakes without abandoning belief. Our guests share why listening to those who have left the Church can strengthen understanding, how transparency can build trust, and why a sustainable faith may depend on accepting imperfection rather than avoiding uncomfortable truths. It’s a thoughtful conversation about faith, doubt, belonging, and creating space for people with different perspectives to engage with one another in good faith.

CONTACT JIM AND IAN

#ParrishTheThoughtPodcast #FaithJourney #FaithTransition #HumanConnection #ChooseCuriosity #LeadWithLove #LDS #MeaningfulConversations #IanWilks #JimBennett #InsideOutPodcast

Ladies and gentlemen and whoever else is listening, welcome back to the show.

CONTENT WARNING - The opinions of the host and our guests have not been sanitized or scientifically tested so please consume at your own risk.

What happens when someone raised to believe they have all the answers discovers they're no longer sure of the questions? In this deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation, Cale Strong, shares the story behind one of the most difficult decisions of his life, walking away from the LDS Church only days after entering the Missionary Training Center. While many know his story through his father, Jeff Strong's book Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn from Them, this episode gives Cale the opportunity to tell his own story in his own words.

Rather than attacking faith or defending disbelief, Cale explores the emotional, relational, and cultural realities that often accompany faith transitions. He reflects on feeling unheard, the unintended harm that can come from trying to "fix" people, and the difference between loving someone as they are versus seeing them as a project.

Together, Brian and Cale discuss family relationships, missionary culture, agency, judgment, belonging, and what genuine Christlike compassion can or should look like, even when people reach very different conclusions. Whether you're firmly rooted in your faith, wrestling with difficult questions, or trying to better understand someone you love, this conversation offers an invitation to replace assumptions with curiosity and fear with empathy.

CONTACT CALE

JEFF STRONG - TORN BOOK

#ParrishTheThoughtPodcast #FaithJourney #FaithTransition #HumanConnection #ChooseCuriosity #LeadWithLove  #LDS #MeaningfulConversations #TornBook #JeffStrong #CaleStrong #LoveThyNeighbor

Ladies and gentlemen and whoever else is listening, welcome back to the show.

CONTENT WARNING - The opinions of the host and our guests have not been sanitized or scientifically tested so please consume at your own risk.

Forty percent. That's roughly how many once-active Latter-day Saints have quietly slipped out the back of the chapel over the past quarter century according to one of the most comprehensive studies ever conducted on Latter-day Saint disaffiliation, which surveyed more than 20,000 current and former members. It's the kind of statistic that turns Sunday dinners into minefields and makes "how's the family" a loaded question.

A few days after his son entered MTC (Missionary Training Center), he'd gotten an unusually timed email from him. Before reading past the first paragraph, he knew that his son was coming home and that the church he'd raised him in was coming home with him.

That's the moment that cracked open everything for he and his family.

My guest is Jeff Strong, a former LDS (Mormon) bishop, mission president, BYU professor, and a man who spent thousands of hours turning his own family's "tectonic plate shift" into one of the most data-driven looks we have at why faithful Latter-day Saints walk away from the Church, in his book "Torn." He's not here to hand you a five-step plan to bring anyone back into the fold. In fact, the plan itself might be the problem. Jeff makes the case that what's missing in a lot of these conversations isn't more certainty or better answers, it's curiosity. Somewhere along the way we traded asking questions for managing outcomes, and a perfectly manicured lawn of matching blades of grass, he says, was never the goal. The mess is. So stick around, because by the end of this one, you may walk away wanting to make curiosity great again. 

CONTACT JEFF

BOOKS, WEBSITES AND RESOURCES

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#TornBook #JeffStrong #FaithJourney #LeavingTheChurch #LDSFaith #CuriosityOverCertainty #FaithAndFamily #ParrishTheThoughtPodcast #MakeCuriosityGreatAgain #ChurchAndCulture #Mormons #ExMormons

Ladies and gentlemen and whoever else is listening, welcome back to the show.

CONTENT WARNING - The opinions of the host and our guests have not been sanitized or scientifically tested so please consume at your own risk.

In this episode, we sit down with Jill Burgon, a clinical social worker who specializes in helping adoptive families navigate the unique emotional and behavioral challenges that can come with adoption. Jill’s path to becoming an adoption-focused therapist began with her own personal experience as an adoptive mother. After realizing there were basically zero tools or therapeutic resources available to help families like hers, Jill made a life-changing decision in her 50s, she went back to school, got two masters degrees and became the professional she wished she had when raising her adopted son. Today, she helps adoptive parents better understand trauma, attachment, and the specialized support adopted children often need to thrive. In this conversation, we explore the realities of adoptive parenting, the hidden challenges families face, and why Jill believes the right tools and understanding can change the trajectory of an adopted child’s life.

CONTACT JILL

Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-burgon/

BOOKS, WEBSITES AND RESOURCES

Utah therapy offices and programs

Children’s Service Society of Utah

https://cssutah.org/our-programs/adoption/mental-health-services

Adoption-competent, trauma-informed therapy for children and caregivers related to adoption or kinship care. 

https://www.raisethefuture.org/family-support/utah

Utah family support hub for adoptive, foster, and kinship families, with regional resources and post-adoption support. 

Utah counseling practice offering child, family, and individual counseling. 

Touchstone Therapy Center - https://touchstoneutah.com/services

Utah therapy office with services related to trauma, attachment, child and family therapy, and adoption-related concerns. 

Wellspring Child & Family Counseling Center - https://wellspringutah.com/fosteradoptive-parents/

Support for foster and adoptive parents, with attention to transitions, loss, and caregiver guidance. 

Focal Point - https://www.focalpointut.com/transracial-adoption-landing

Utah resource especially relevant for transracial adoption, identity, belonging, and culturally responsive support. 

The Children’s Center Utah - https://childrenscenterutah.org/

Trauma-informed, evidence-based mental health care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families. 

Wasatch Behavioral Health Attachment IOP - https://www.wasatch.org/attachment-iop/ Intensive outpatient program for youth ages 10 to 17 who have been adopted or are not being raised by their biological parents and are working on attachment issues. 

How to find an adoption-competent therapist

Look for these terms in a therapist profile or ask about them directly: TAC or NTI therapist training. Do they use therapies such as TBRI, ARC, PCIT, Theraplay, or DDP?

https://adoptionsupport.org/national-directory/

https://www.utahadopt.org/resources/category-filter/category/counselors-who-specialize-in-adoption

Online resources, trainings, webinars, and support

NTDC, National Training and Development Curriculum

https://ntdctraining.org/training-for-families/

Free, research-based training for foster, kinship, and adoptive families. It was developed with input from experts, caregivers, and people with lived experience, including former foster and adoptive youth, and is designed to help parents care for children impacted by trauma, separation, and loss. 

NCFA Adoption Learning Hub - https://adoptioncouncil.org/courses/

On-demand courses and webinars for adoptive parents, prospective adoptive parents, and professionals. 

Grow Beyond Words On-Demand Adoption Courses

https://growbeyondwords.com/on-demand-adoption-courses/

Adoption-focused courses for adoptive and foster parents, caregivers, and professionals. 

C.A.S.E. Webinars - https://adoptionsupport.org/webinars/

Free monthly and on-demand webinars for adoptive, foster, and kinship parents/caregivers and professionals. 

Celia Center - https://celiacenter.org/

Online support groups and community for adoptees, foster and adoptive parents, kinship families, and other members of the adoption constellation. 

National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support - https://postadoptioncenter.org/

National hub with training, tools, and a resource library focused on post-adoption and post-permanency support. 

ASCC, Adoption-Sensitive Clinical Care - https://hbasct.org/

Training and education focused on adoption-sensitive care in healthcare and clinical settings. 

Cam Lee Small / Therapy Redeemed - https://therapyredeemed.com/

Adoptee-centered therapy, education, podcasts, and courses that can help parents and caregivers learn from adoptee perspectives. 

Helpful books for parents or caregivers

Parenting in the Eye of the Storm: The Adoptive Parent’s Guide to Navigating the Teen Years

https://us.jkp.com/products/parenting-in-the-eye-of-the-storm

A parent resource focused on staying grounded and navigating the teen years in adoption-sensitive ways. 

The Connected Parent

https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/connected-parent-9780736978927/

Practical attachment-focused parenting strategies for children from hard places. 

#AdoptionSupport #AdoptionJourney #AdoptiveParenting #AdoptionTherapy #TraumaInformedCare #AttachmentTrauma #AdoptionAwareness #AdoptionPodcast #ParentingAdoptedChildren #AdoptionResources

Ladies and gentlemen and whoever else is listening, welcome back to the show.

CONTENT WARNING - The opinions of the host and our guests have not been sanitized or scientifically tested so please consume at your own risk.

In this two-part conversation with Laura Titensor, the host of The SolScript Podcast, we dive into the powerful and often painful cost of trying to belong while losing your voice. Laura invited me onto her podcast to share this story so you can hear it here and on her show.

Laura opens up about the moment she first realized her spiritual authority had been quieted when she was publicly shut down teaching a group of young women and how that shifted everything about her faith, identity, and relationships. Together we talk about the deep ache which came from that loss, and what it looks like to begin reclaiming your voice without abandoning love.

In the second half of our conversation, we reflect on how these experiences affect family, marriage, parenting, and the way we define love and belonging. What does it really mean to love authentically when curiosity replaces judgment? How do we support the people we care about through major identity shifts, even when it feels like we’re losing our place in their world? This episode is for anyone who’s wrestled with the cost of belonging, the courage to speak up, and the road back to themselves.

CONTACT LAURA

Instagram -https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-solscript-podcast/id1714303236

#WhenBelongingCostsYouYourVoice #FindingYourVoice #ReligiousTrauma #FaithAndHealing #AuthenticityMatters #SpiritualDeconstruction

Ladies and gentlemen and whoever else is listening, welcome back to the show.

CONTENT WARNING - The opinions of the host and our guests have not been sanitized or scientifically tested so please consume at your own risk.

In this episode, we sit down with Ashley Buckner, LMFT, to talk honestly about something many people in high control/demand religions or groups feel but struggle to name: religious trauma.

Together, we explore what religious trauma actually is, how it shows up in individuals and families, and why it often goes unrecognized in deeply faith-centered communities.

Ashley brings a therapist’s clarity and compassion to a complex topic, helping us distinguish between healthy faith, harmful systems, and the quiet wounds that can linger when belief, identity, and belonging collide. This conversation isn’t about tearing down faith—it’s about awareness, accountability, and the possibility of healing and growth for individuals and for the church itself.

REFERENCES

CONTACT ASHLEY

#ReligiousTrauma #HealingJourney #FaithAndHealing #MentalHealthMatters #TraumaInformed #UtahVoices #TherapyTalk #FaithDeconstruction

Because real change doesn’t start with defensiveness—it starts with being curious.

Ladies and gentlemen and whoever else is listening. Welcome back to the program. 

The opinions of the host and our guests have not been sanitized or scientifically tested, so please consume at your own risk.

Davos has a reputation. A snowy playground for global elites, billionaires, and world leaders deciding the future behind closed doors. But is that actually the full picture? In this conversation, my guest and friend, Paul Burgon, returning from his second visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, offers a grounded, on-the-ground perspective that challenges the stereotype.

He shares how surprisingly accessible the conference can be for people outside the halls of power, the contagious energy that spills far beyond the official sessions, and why Davos is filled with people who are genuinely passionate about making meaningful change in the world. This is a candid look at Davos—not as an idea, but as an experience.

CONTACT PAUL

REFERENCES AND CALL-OUTS

#DavosForDummies

Ladies and Gentlemen and whoever else is listening. The opinions of Brian, your host and our guests have not been sanitized or scientifically tested so please consume at your own risk.

Ethan and Leland reflect on what it means to be close—not just physically, but emotionally—to a moment that altered the course of many lives. Just 20 feet away, they found themselves inside a violent, chaotic event surrounding the Charlie Kirk assassination at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Seconds felt suspended and normalcy vanished.

This conversation isn’t about replaying headlines or assigning meaning too quickly; it’s about memory, proximity, and the quiet aftermath that lingers long after the crowd disperses and media stories fade. What stays with you when you realize you were close enough to history to feel it move?

Contact: 

References and Time Stamp Call-outs:

#CharlieKirkAssassination #UtahValleyUniversity #UVU #CharlieKirk #TurningPointUSA #ProveMeWrong #WhenHistoryTurns #ProximityToTragedy #UnforgettableMoments

Ladies and gentlemen and whoever else is listening. My guest today is Samantha, the host and creator of the TikTok and Instagram accounts MormWithThoseWhoMormed.

WARNING: The opinions of the host and our guests have not been sanitized or scientifically tested so please consume at your own risk.

There’s a phrase often lobbed at former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who continue to speak openly about their experience: “They can leave the Church, but they can’t leave it alone.”

Today, Samantha helps us unpack the real and often overlooked why behind that sentiment.

So get comfy. Bring an open heart and a curious mind, and join us as She takes us on a thoughtful, honest, and occasionally witty tour through her brain..

FOLLOW SAMANTHA TODAY

#MormWithThoseWhoMormed #Mormon #LDS #ExLDS #FormerMormon #LoveThyNeighbor #TheChurchOfJesusChrist #CantLeaveItAlone 

Ladies and gentlemen—and whoever else is listening—welcome back to the show.

My guest today is Jashub Hinton, a 14-year-old piano composer whose talent far exceeds his upcoming driver’s license privileges. Jashub recently released a beautiful new arrangement of one of our all-time favorite Christmas classics Carol of The Bells.

He joins us today to talk about his journey—how he got started, how he’s grown as a musician, and how not listening to his parents may have contributed to his current addiction… to the piano. It’s a condition he may be managing for the rest of his life—and honestly, we’re all better for it.

So, Piano Guys...fair warning, This kid is coming for you.

FOLLOW JASHUB TODAY