This one absolutely applies to religious context, and I hope you'll appreciate it. I think women are socialized to do this more than men. I recently published an editorial in the Deseret News titled: Why Utah’s Passive‑Aggressive Culture Hurts Us More Than We Think. I’m going to read it to you and then make a bunch of comments. I give you lots of examples in the editorial itself and then expand with my comments. I hope you'll listen in!

Article: Passive aggression has a simple antidote | Opinion – Deseret News

In this episode, I turn to an editorial I published in June in the Utah News Dispatch—a piece that speaks directly to the lived experience of Latter‑day Saint women. We are disciples of Jesus Christ, and our discipleship requires ethical steadiness, moral courage, and the willingness to speak truth with love. As I read the editorial, I’ll pause after some chunks to share the spiritual impressions and gospel‑centered reflections that feel important for covenant women today. Why ethical grounding still matters in a world that feels upside down • Utah News Dispatch

After a refreshing summer break, I’m back and ready to launch Season Four of Unleashing Sister Saints. And I’m starting this season with an episode centered around an editorial I published in June in the Deseret News titled “Why Moral Clarity Still Matters.” I’ve felt strongly—especially in recent months—that Latter‑day Saint women (and men) are called to stay deeply ethical, rooted in moral values, and willing to speak up and speak out with courage. This episode is my invitation for all of us to reclaim that clarity and use it to strengthen our discipleship. In this show I’ll begin by reading the editorial and then I’ll share some of the thoughts and impressions as I revisit the message with fresh eyes and a gospel lens. Welcome back!

As I wrap up for the summer, I talk about a research study I'm conducting (with the help of a qualitative research team) titled "Building Faith Communities Where Women in Crisis Find Safety, Support, and Belonging. I thought you would be interested in this.

The purpose of this in-depth qualitative study is to examine how faith communities influence the experiences of women who are navigating crisis, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and divorce. Specifically, the study seeks to identify the congregational characteristics, cultural norms, leadership practices, and theological messages that function as protective factors—and, conversely, risk factors—for women’s safety, support, belonging, and well‑being. By documenting both supportive and harmful congregational dynamics, this research aims to generate insights that can help faith communities strengthen their capacity to respond to women in crisis in trauma‑informed, inclusive, and healing‑centered ways.

I'm spending lots of time this summer on this and will be taking a rest from this podcast until fall. I hope you all have a wonderful summer and find time to strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ. I'm going to do that as well. Peace.

I’m going to take a break for the summer, but felt like I didn’t have an episode that closes the loop on the year, so I’ll do that in this episode, but now I’m thinking I’ll do one more as I’ve been mentioning the Church related research I’ll be doing this summer (and have about 8 qualitative researchers helping with interviews) that I know you’ll be interested in. But for this episode I want to talk about where things are at with some of the challenges I’m facing with trying to ensure the more women, girls, and families in our state of Utah are thriving, and there are applications beyond as well. I talk about an editorial I wrote and then pulled applications out of a book I read and how they apply to this work.

In this episode, I explore a principle that has the power to soften your heart, reshape your relationships, and dramatically shift how you experience both the miraclesand the messes of mortality.

It’s the principle of stewardship versus ownership, beautifully taught by Ganel‑Lyn Condie in her recent book: The Stewardship Principle: Reframing Your Life. In this episode, I share my insights on the concepts that connected most deeply with me.

Decades of research shows that language doesn’t simply describe reality—it actively shapes it. The words we choose influence perception, identity, and behavior, particularly around gender. Everyday phrases, often spoken without awareness, can reinforce stereotypes or subtly erode girls’ and women’s confidence. Several years ago, I published an article titled “Why Calling Women ‘Girls’ Is a Bigger Deal Than You May Think,” which explored one facet of this issue. In this episode I examine six additional communication habits that can unintentionally weaken women’s impact.

I wrote the content of this for a Forbes article a few months ago, but I also think it relates beyond the workplace to home, community, and church. I read sections and then share my thoughts in this episode of Unleashing Sister Saints!

In this episode of Unleashing Sister Saints, we’re diving into one of the most soul‑shifting themes in Latter‑day Saint theology: our relationship with our Heavenly Mother.

I recently read the 2025 book titled Mother in Heaven: AGospel Topics Essay Study Guide by Carnicelli, Caudle, and Krishna (and many other authors who did individual sections), and I was struck—again and again—by how deeply this doctrine shapes identity, partnership, and discipleship.

Today I want to share some of the most powerful passages from the book, along with reflections on why they matter for us as women, as leaders, and as covenant disciples.

BOOK: Mother in Heaven: A Gospel Topics Essay Study Guide

I recently finished a powerful new book titled Using Friction to Grow: Stories of Strength & Resilience—LDS Women 1968–1976, written by my friend Robin Ritch. A year or so ago, Robin told me she felt inspired to interview a group of women whose lives didn’t fit the traditional mold of “Mormon womanhood” in the 1970s and 80s. I love that she followed that prompting.

The way she wove together their stories—sometimes in fragments, sometimes in themes—creates a tapestry of insight that is both honest and deeply hopeful.

As I read, several passages stayed with me. These womenexperienced real friction—within society, within the Church, and within themselves. Yet they chose to stay, to wrestle, and to grow. I want to share a few excerpts that especially resonated with me and offer some reflections along the way. I highly recommend this book!

Using Friction to Grow: Stories of Strength and Resilience, LDS Women 1968-1976: Ritch, Robin: 9781961471320: Amazon.com: Books

I recently finished reading the book “70x7: Jesus’s Path to Conflict Transformation” by Chad Ford. I shared some of my favorite passages, along with some insights, in the last episode, and will continue in this episode as well. As I continued reading, Ford raised a question that feels especially relevant in our polarized world: “How do we invite restoration among those who don’t want to embrace, who are polarized or divided, who are traumatized or filled with hatred—whether out of fear, pride, grief, or woundedness? Destroying a relationship or a life can take only seconds. Restoration, however, can take weeks, months, or even years.” Many other great quotes and insights as well. Listen in.