Do you tend to feel comfortable and powerful with your sexuality as a Latter-day Saint woman, or somewhat ashamed and embarrassed? Join me today for a fantastic discussion with Dr. Chelom Leavitt, a BYU professor, author, mother of eight, and expert in healthy, meaningful sexuality. Dr. Leavitt shares how women can achieve more meaningful sex and why meaningful sex is critical in a healthy marriage relationship, and how women can achieve greater mindfulness during sex. We also discuss how to teach children of any age about sex, and small things we can do to help prevent sexual abuse. As Dr. Leavitt says, who better to talk about healthy sex than a committed, Latter-day Saint woman devoted to marriage and family?

Challenge: Dr. Leavitt’s website features great information and resources for women on the topic of healthy, meaningful sexuality. Spend a few minutes exploring her website here: https://www.chelomleavitt.com/ 

Resources: 

Dr. Leavitt’s website: https://www.chelomleavitt.com/ 

Book: A Better Way to Teach Kids About Sex: https://a.co/d/g8kr82B 

Book: Sexual Wholeness In Marriage: https://a.co/d/aRztnI7 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

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

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

Rebecca Dutson, President and CEO of The Children’s Center Utah, is passionate about helping children and families thrive, not just survive. As a faithful member of the Church, Rebecca believes children are our most precious resource, and wants everyone to understand that children have mental health, and that even infants, toddlers and preschoolers have mental health needs. Tune in to this week’s episode to learn more about the interrelated nature of mother and caregiver mental health and children’s mental health, and how we can best help children and families thrive.  

Challenge: Learn more about children's mental health at the links below.

Resources: 

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

Kem C. Gardner Early Childhood Mental Health in Utah Report: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://d36oiwf74r1rap.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/Child-Ment-Health-Dec2020.pdf 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

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

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

Today I am joined by the incomparable Robin Ritch, and extraordinary leader with a wealth of experience in tech and innovation. From the get-go, you will be inspired by Robin’s passion and excitement for life and the gospel of Jesus Christ. In this episode, she shares insights gained from interviewing several dozen Latter-day Saint women who came of age in the ‘60s and ‘70s. She shares their wrestles and how the friction these women experienced shaped their lives and testimonies. Robin also invites women to reflect on how they can bring greater light to the world around them through their own unique gifts and talents, a role she sees as divinely female.    

Challenge: This week, ask a Latter-day Saint woman, maybe older than you, about her story. Reflect on what you learn from her experiences. 

Resources: 

Watch for Robin’s book with lessons from her interviews with Latter-day Saint women later in 2024! 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

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

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

Candace Queathem is a mom of three young children who has made time and space in her life to serve the vulnerable in her community. Candace, who lives in London, England, formally serves as the community outreach specialist for the Hyde Park Stake, but her volunteer efforts began with a simple observation of need during the Afghan refugee crisis and a desire to help. Today, I talk with Candace about the value of education, the critical importance of relationship and trust building in volunteer work, and how centering her life in Christlike service has given her a firm foundation when challenges to her faith have come. She shares some great suggestions for ways women can immediately get involved in serving the needy in their communities, and why we must reach out to help. Ultimately, Candace has learned that advocacy work is the Savior’s work, breaking down man-made barriers and bringing about peace.  

Challenge: How can you make your influence more felt in your community? How can you serve in ways that align with your skills and values but also move you outside your comfort zone? 

Resources: 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

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

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

Laurel Christensen Day believes there are many options, not just one or two, to live out our discipleship and life’s purpose. On this week’s episode, Laurel shares her unexpected journey from part-time marketing and events coordinator at Deseret Book to her current role as company president, how she’s learned from and not been paralyzed by mistakes, and the responsibility she feels to create space for everyone who wants to belong in the Church.

Challenge: Consider the vision you have for your roles, whether that is at home, at work, or at church. How can these opportunities bring you the fulfillment, joy, and meaning that you seek? Be sure to focus on the things you can control! 

Resources: 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

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

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

We have been invited by senior Church leaders (and continuously in scripture by our Savior, Jesus Christ) to build Zion by creating communities of unity and belonging. On the podcast today, guest Jared Harding joins me to discuss how male allyship is critical to building Zion. Jared, who holds a master’s degree in leadership and organizational behavior, shares how his interest in allyship began as he more fully understood the doctrine of Heavenly Mother and women's divine potential. We then discuss how men can move from avoiding or even accomodating gender issues to creatively advancing women’s standing in the Church by sharing power, influence, and decision-making ability.   

Challenge: Share this episode with the male leaders in your Zion community.   

Resources: 
“Sacred Struggle: Seeking Christ on the Path of Most Resistance” by Melissa Inouye 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1639931872/ref=ewc_pr_img_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 

“At the Pulpit: 185 Years of Discourses by Latter-day Saint Women” edited by Kate Holbrook and Jennifer Reeder (great resource for quotes by women throughout Church history) 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/church-historians-press/at-the-pulpit?lang=eng 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

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

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

Today’s episode begins with the story of my friend, Heather. Heather had never planned to go to grad school, but that all changed with a “tap.” This week I talk about the power of the "tap on the shoulder,” a nudge or a bit of encouragement, especially for women. This tap can encourage positive transformational moments like going back to school, pursuing a graduate degree, asking for a promotion, or running for political office. This is a brief, but impactful episode on our capacity to influence other’s lives for good simply by recognizing other’s strengths and encouraging them forward.  

Challenge: Think of five people (particularly women) you can give this “tap on the shoulder” to in the coming days and weeks. Remember, this is important for you and them! 

Resources: 
BYU Magazine article, “The Tap”: https://magazine.byu.edu/article/the-tap/ 

Harvard Business Review, “Why Women Don’t Apply for Jobs Unless They’re 100% Qualified”: https://hbr.org/2014/08/why-women-dont-apply-for-jobs-unless-theyre-100-qualified 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

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

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

I believe Latter-day Saint women are perfect candidates for public service, and this week’s guest agrees. Join me for a conversation with my vibrant and passionate friend Sui Lang Panoke, a visionary leader, social entrepreneur, and international trainer and facilitator who currently serves as Senior Vice President of Culture for Zions Bank. Sui Lang shares her background in training women and minorities for public service, and why women often bring the very type of leadership that is needed in government today.  

Challenge: When women feel loved and supported, they feel empowered to lead and can create positive change. Take a moment today to think about how you can lift and support a woman around you.  

Resources: 
BYU Studies article by Dr. Susan R. Madsen: Rise and Run: Latter-day Saint Women and Good Government: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol61/iss1/10/ 

Utah Women’s History article about Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon, first female state senator: https://utahwomenshistory.org/2018/01/dr-martha-hughes-cannon-first-female-state-senator/ 

 Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

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

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

Have you ever heard of cultural master narratives? Today, Elizabeth Ostler, Ph.D., explains the role of cultural master narratives in telling us who and how we’re supposed to be in order to belong to a group. Liz, a theater-maker, researcher, artist, activist, and current Relief Society president in Brooklyn, recently completed doctoral research on Latter-day Saint women cultural master narratives. On the episode, Liz explains how gaining awareness around our culture’s ideals, distinguishing these ideals from doctrine, and seeking our own personal revelation can help us be true to ourselves and to who our Heavenly Parents need us to be. Liz is also the editor-in-chief of the LDS Women Project, and she she shares wonderful insights from producing and editing interviews with hundreds of LDS women around the world.   

Challenge: Take time this week to pause, zoom out, and consider your life in relationship to who and how you believe you’re supposed to be. Are you responding to cultural narratives and ideals in a way that is serving you, or are these narratives stifling or limiting? Are they helping you reach the fullest measure of your creation? Pray and seek personal revelation to know who and how God wants and needs you to be.   

Resources: 
LDS Women Project: https://ldswomenproject.com/ 

Elizabeth Ostler dissertation, “Navigating Ideals: Latter-Day Saint Women and Latter-Day Saint Cultural Master Narratives”: https://lifesechoes.com/my-research/ 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

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

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

Join me today for a conversation with Courtney Vander Veur Matz, an award-winning artist, wife, and mother of three. Courtney’s art was included in the Church’s International Art Competition in both 2019 and 2002, and her artwork visualizing Heavenly Mother and our Heavenly Parents has been included in several art shows and in the book, The Girls’ Guide to Heavenly Mother. In the episode, Courtney shares the process and inspiration for creating a 7ft by 4ft portrait of Heavenly Mother in 2019, and we discuss the joy that can be found as we allow for creativity in our everyday lives.   

Challenge: View Courtney’s painting of Heavenly Mother, or another painting of Heavenly Mother that resonates with you, and take a few minutes to ponder and even journal about your thoughts and feelings. 

Resources: 
Courtney Vander Veur Matz art: https://courtneyvvmatz.com/ 

Courtney’s Heavenly Mother painting, “Mother Divine”: https://courtneyvvmatz.com/store/mother-divine 

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf 2008 talk about creativity, “Happiness Your Heritage”: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2008/10/happiness-your-heritage?lang=eng 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

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

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠