You may feel sure about a lot of things, but what if one day you reach for your faith and find the certainty that has always given you comfort is not where you thought it was? When foundational ideas or beliefs suddenly go missing for you or a loved one, it can feel like the ground has been pulled out from under you. In Episode 42, Cynthia and Susan are joined by Jeralee Renshaw for a discussion about surviving—and thriving—when faith shifts.
Feb 02, 2021•53 min•Season 2Ep. 42
What if there were a remedy that might counteract the difficulties and disappointments of being human, but you weren't quite sure how it worked, or how to get it? Many Latter-day Saints feel certain about the importance of obedience in their lives, but are less settled in their thinking about grace. Cynthia and Susan discuss how and why, for each of them, the idea of grace has come to be foundational to their faith, rather than incidental to it.
Jan 26, 2021•53 min•Season 2Ep. 41
If there's a way to make the word Obedience feel itchier for some of us, it's by combining it with the word Exact. But these words increasingly seem to appear together when we're holding up Latter-day Saint ideals. What does the phrase "exact obedience" mean? Are there different kinds of obedience, and do they all carry the same rewards? In this conversation, Cynthia and Susan explore the principle of obedience as a means to spiritual growth and personal transformation.
Jan 19, 2021•50 min•Season 2Ep. 40
In recent years, it seems the phrases priesthood power and priesthood authority are being used more often in reference to women. But what do those words really mean? Has anything changed, or is this just a new way of describing old ideas? Cynthia and Susan talk about these phrases and the questions and feelings they evoke in a discussion of Pres. Jean B. Bingham's article, Women and Covenant Power.
Jan 12, 2021•53 min•Season 2Ep. 39
When you're vocal in your criticism of an organization, people may wonder why you don't leave. But for some women, speaking up about the bad and the good are both important to the process of staying. In this episode, Cynthia and Susan discuss ways the Church leads them to Jesus Christ, and how engagement in their Latter-day Saint communities continues to impact and improve their lives.
Jan 05, 2021•50 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Have you ever wished you heard Latter-day Saint women talk about modesty using words like context, intention, body acceptance, sexuality, empowerment, and authenticity? Well here's that conversation! Cynthia and Susan are joined by therapist C.A. Larson for a closer look at the ways we discuss, teach, and practice principles of modesty. How can we approach this topic with our youth in a way that will equip them to make their own good choices?
Dec 29, 2020•51 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Mary was not only responsible for bearing Jesus, but for teaching him to be Jesus—merciful, kind, generous, just, nurturing. The traits that drew people to him were modeled by his mother. Moses became Moses because women acted in faith to save him so he could in turn become a deliverer. The stripling warriors were valiant because their mothers taught them to trust God. On close reading, our scriptures are imbued with a matriarchal power that is often overlooked because we focus on the men in the...
Dec 22, 2020•55 min•Season 2Ep. 36
As Latter-day Saint women, our callings sit at the center of our church experience. Where, when, and how we are asked to serve can impact everything from our family's daily schedule to our personal health, spiritual wellbeing or self esteem. It's no wonder our feelings about callings run deep. In this discussion, Cynthia and Susan share their own and listeners' experiences—exploring some of the ways women serve in the church, and imagining other ways we might.
Dec 15, 2020•49 min•Season 2Ep. 35
What does it mean to be a creative person, and what might we learn by daring to pursue our own ideas? Following our curiosity and engaging in the creative process can introduce us to ourselves, and help us glimpse our divine potential. In this episode, Susan and Cynthia discuss the ways creativity enriches their lives, enhances their spiritual connectivity, and nudges them toward greater understanding and personal growth.
Dec 08, 2020•48 min•Season 2Ep. 34
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we can gain helpful insights by listening to the mothers of LGBTQ+ children. In this episode, Cynthia and Susan are joined by Liz McDonald for a conversation about hard won lessons of this specific mother-love, and what we might learn from the women who share them.
Dec 01, 2020•50 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Thanks and Help: it's a prayer in just 3 words. Can gratitude move us in the direction of our own healing? Even in a difficult year, we've found plenty to make us marvel. In this episode, Susan shares thoughts on the spiritual benefits of giving mindful thanks, and Cynthia joins to discuss finding connection, awe and wonder in the everyday.
Nov 24, 2020•40 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Jesus asked 100x more questions than he answered, so questions must have an important role to play in spiritual growth. Why don't they always feel welcome at church? Andrea Forsythe joins us to discuss asking better ones—questions that can help us see ourselves more clearly, and point to ways we might grow in love and understanding as individuals, and as a church.
Nov 17, 2020•47 min•Season 2Ep. 31
Kathryn Knight Sonntag is a poet and landscape designer whose deep connection to nature is rooted in the Feminine Divine. She shares her poetry and insights gleaned from her personal journey in this conversation about our search for divine identity as Latter-day Saint women.
Nov 10, 2020•53 min•Season 2Ep. 30
From the time they are young girls, Latter-day Saint women hear a great deal of emphasis placed on motherhood being central to their divine role. Yet there are so many variables that often go unacknowledged in the conversation—desire, opportunity, aptitude, health, finances, to name a few—that truly complicate this general teaching for specific women. In this episode, Cynthia and Susan discuss the ways motherhood adds real and ongoing complexity to their lives, choices, and feelings.
Nov 03, 2020•54 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Cynthia and Susan are joined by their friend Holly to discuss the biggest elephant in the room. In what ways might polygamy—past, present, and/or future—affect the lives of Latter-day Saint women today?
Oct 27, 2020•50 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Cynthia and Susan share their own experiences, as well as listeners' stories, in an introductory exploration of the current Latter-day Saint approach to modesty. What are the possible unintended consequences of the rules, rhetoric, and culture in which we're raising our young women?
Oct 20, 2020•49 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Dr. Julie Hanks, owner and executive director of Wasatch Family Therapy in Salt Lake City, joins Cynthia and Susan for a discussion about authority. How do we navigate the tension we sometimes experience between the general counsel of Church leaders, and the personal revelation we receive as stewards of our own lives?
Oct 13, 2020•44 min•Season 2Ep. 26
In the first episode of Season 2, Cynthia and Susan consider some of the burdens women carry—in their hearts, their minds, and their bodies—and discuss Mary, the mother of Jesus. She bore an unimaginable weight, but about her remarkable personal journey we have only a few precious clues.
Oct 06, 2020•47 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Jeralee is joined by dear friend Carol Lynn Pearson for a poetry reading and exploration of her new collection, Finding Mother God.
Sep 29, 2020•49 min•Season 1Ep. 24
In this bonus episode, Cynthia traces some of the growth she has experienced as a result of periods of sustained grieving. Looking back now, she can see how grief turned out to be a teacher she never wanted, and never knew she needed.
Sep 15, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 23
As a Latter-day Saint woman, it can be hard to separate the men from the labels that define their place in the Church. In this bonus episode, Susan attempts to untangle and explain her complex relationship with both.
Aug 25, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 22
In this bonus episode, Cynthia and Susan wrap up the first season with a top ten list, some listener feedback, and a season two teaser: a call for women to contribute their stories and experiences on upcoming topics.
Aug 04, 2020•38 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Cynthia and Susan are joined by Jeralee for a discussion of agency. If we believe it's a foundational component of the plan, why is it sometimes so hard to honor? Can shifting our thinking about agency improve the way we make decisions for ourselves, and help us better love and support others in their choices?
Jul 21, 2020•46 min•Season 1Ep. 20
There are as many beliefs, experiences, and ideas as there are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this episode we meet Heather, a woman who brings her unique brand of enthusiasm, spiritual confidence, and professional expertise to people around the world, doing work that transforms lives as a highly specialized humanitarian aid volunteer.
Jul 14, 2020•47 min•Season 1Ep. 19
How does fear function in our church teachings, culture, conversations, and relationships? If fear doesn't work to change hearts, why do we continue to try it as a motivator? Can it fuel personal growth? A favorite talk by Dieter F. Uchtdorf provides the starting point for a discussion of what we might gain individually and collectively by leading with love rather than fear.
Jul 07, 2020•47 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Our spiritual ideas, practices, and answers might serve us well for many years—even for a lifetime. We don't need more until we realize we don't have enough. Cynthia and Susan discuss asking new questions, changing old patterns, and finding space to connect with God in unfamiliar ways.
Jun 30, 2020•49 min•Season 1Ep. 17
What exactly does it mean to be saved by grace "after all we can do?" Untangling our own merit from God's love can be confusing. Cynthia and Susan discuss ways their understanding of this principle continues to evolve and influence their spiritual lives.
Jun 23, 2020•44 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Sometimes in order to get what we need, we have to make choices that may be at odds with what others deem acceptable or appropriate. Cynthia and Susan discuss the scriptural story of a woman who took a big risk, and received exactly what she was seeking in return.
Jun 16, 2020•45 min•Season 1Ep. 15
From dark cracks to deep chasms, the path of faith may contain unique obstacles for women with depression, anxiety, or other forms of mental illness. Susan shares her personal story with Cynthia in a conversation aimed at increasing understanding and awareness of these challenges.
Jun 09, 2020•46 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Learning to embrace Plan B is the work of living. The story of a friend's unexpected journey with her husband's faith transition frames a discussion about the gifts and challenges of ceding control, and the love lessons learned by allowing ourselves and others to change and grow.
Jun 02, 2020•39 min•Season 1Ep. 13
