Latter Day Struggles

Valerie Hamaker
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  • MENTAL HEALTH
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The Latter Day Struggles Podcast addresses beliefs and issues within the LDS faith that are challenging to talk about but vital to discuss for those trying to navigate their relationship in or around the church. Valerie and her guests invite psychological maturity, theological health, and institutional integrity. 

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    369: Drowning in the Shallows: Fabricated Fellowship Explored

    Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: An Exploration of ‘Fabricated Fellowship’ & ‘Harmful Religiosity’ on the Path Towards Healing Spiritual Community [Part II of IV] In this second episode (of a four-part Monday series), Valerie dives deeper with Steve and Ginger Hitz, authors of 'Igniting the Holy Flame.' The conversation centers on the barriers to spiritual thriving in church communities, specifically the concepts of 'fabricated fellowship' and 'harmful religiosity' complete with an exploration and examples of both concepts. The discussion underscores the importance of individual spiritual discernment and highlights the journey towards creating more inclusive and love-centered religious communities. As usual, Latter Day Struggles strives to invite candid conversations that have the power to bring growth, healing, and spiritual awakening to every listener as they move about in all of their communities, 'religious' and otherwise. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Series Overview 01:17 Defining True Fellowship 01:56 Personal Stories of Fellowship 03:44 Challenges in Fellowship 10:32 Fabricated Fellowship 17:56 Harmful Religiosity 20:35 Grace vs. Legalism 36:47 Customs and Spiritual Growth 44:38 Conclusion and Next Steps Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    48 min

  2. 22 SEPT

    367: Faith on Fire: A Family’s Tragedy Becomes a Faith System’s Invitation to Awaken

    Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: An Exploration of ‘Fabricated Fellowship’ & ‘Harmful Religiosity’ on the Path Towards Healing Spiritual Community [Part I of IV] As Richard Rohr has often said, "It is through great love and great suffering" that the soul grows the most rapidly and the most durably. In this four-part series (every MONDAY for the next four weeks!) fall in love with Steve and Ginger Hitz, co-authors of 'Igniting the Holy Flame: Building Communities of Love from the Ashes of Negative Religious Culture,' a book inspired by the tragic loss of their son, whose suffering was amplified by a church culture that could not meet him where he was. This book and this podcast series is a plea for further awakening around aspects of church communities that set about to help but instead inadvertently do harm through concepts like 'fabricated fellowship' and 'harmful religiosity'. In this series you will hear both candid conversation about the pain points of faith communities and how to heal, grow, and create peace both within ourselves and within our communities. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:22 Meet Steve and Ginger: A Journey of Love and Faith 06:21 The Faith Journey and Spiritual Community 09:37 Skyler's Story: A Catalyst for Change 15:55 Interfaith Work and Universal Love 18:01 Revelation and Healing After Loss 25:08 Overview of 'Igniting the Holy Flame' 31:58 Closing Thoughts and Future Episodes Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    29 min

  3. 15 SEPT

    365: Soul Sisters Unite: Q&A w/ Valerie & Dr. Julie Hanks about Their Faith Journeys

    Send us a Positive Review! Join Dr. Julie Hanks & Valerie in a heartfelt audience Q&A addressing their shared passion as therapists working with thousands of people in and around The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Listen in and find hope and comfort as these two women answer questions about their eventful year promoting, leading, and trying to embody (although imperfectly!) lives of psychological and spiritual health.  Stay tuned for the end of the episode where they announce a 4 week online Q&A session for those interested in exploring how they can stay connected to the LDS church in psychologically healthy ways & on their own terms.  Link to enroll below! Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 03:15 Discussing Faith Journeys and Challenges 03:46 Addressing Audience Questions on Faith and Spirituality 06:12 Experiences with Church Leadership 12:16 Rebuilding Identity and Addressing Scrupulosity 20:29 Taking Feedback and Sacrifice 21:46 Honoring Family While Acknowledging Harm 25:16 Staying in the Church: Personal Reflections 28:31 Marriage and Dating After Stepping Away 31:22 Biggest Shifts in Faith Journeys 36:36 Upcoming Events and Announcements https://drjuliehanks.as.me/schedule/d028d361/appointment/82717607/calendar/30967?appointment= Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    42 min

  4. 8 SEPT

    363: The Beautiful Simplicity of Minding our Own Underwear Drawers

    Send us a Positive Review! In this eye-opening episode Valerie is a guest on the Inside Out Podcast with Ian Wilkes and Jim Bennett, where they dive deep into the complexities of women's roles within the LDS Church, locking in on the recent garment policy shifts.  You might be surprised to learn Valerie’s take on this topic. A hint: adding women leaders to these policy-making gatherings is NOT the answer to this conundrum where it seems that thousands of LDS women across the belief & practice spectrum are frustrated.  Tune in to explore a thought-provoking discussion on equality, institutional overreach, and the beauty (and simplicity) that unfolds when humans are given the dignity to manage their own underwear drawers.  00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:31 Jim's Experience in Argentina 01:47 Special Guest: Valerie Hamaker 02:16 Valerie's Background and Podcast 04:50 Challenges of Patriarchy in the Church 06:18 Authority and Decision Making in the Church 16:35 Impact of Patriarchy on Men and Women 22:17 Garment Controversy and Gender Equality 30:21 Church Surveys and Member Feedback 35:38 The Problems with Fundamentalism 36:38 Controlling Dress and Underwear Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    1h 11m

  5. 1 SEPT

    361: I'm Sharing My Life with This Stranger?

    Send us a Positive Review! In this heartwarming episode, Val is the guest on the Therapy Brothers podcast hosted by brothers & fellow relationship therapists Brannon and Tyler Patrick.    The topic is navigating the choppy waters of a marriage in distress due to the faith journey of one of the partners--a demographic of couples that is multiplying rapidly.   The bottom line? A faith transition can (and has) weakened or destroyed many a marriage.  But guess what?  A faith transition can actually strengthen a marriage in ways that virtually nothing else can--if both partners have the framework and the tools.   Listen in as Valerie shares her experiences and strategies helping countless distressed couples rediscover love by:  redefining what healthy marriage isfocusing on values over beliefsembracing discomfort for growth fostering deep connections through compassion, curiosity, and healthy differentiation of self.    Whether you're in a faith-expanding journey or just want to deepen your relationship, this episode is packed with wisdom to guide you through the intricate dance of intimate relationship & spiritual evolution. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Going Live 00:33 Weekend Stories and Parenting 02:33 Introducing Valerie Hamer 04:00 Valerie's Professional Journey 06:08 Navigating Faith and Relationships 11:49 The Role of Compassion and Understanding 32:39 Process Over Content in Relationships 42:14 Valerie's Resources and Conclusion Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    49 min

  6. 25 AUG

    359: Holy Betrayal: When Men Betray Patriarchal Privilege

    Send us a Positive Review! In this episode Valerie is the guest on the podcast Black & White & Gold hosted by Carly and Rob Allred where they engage in a compelling conversation on gender and faith.  Valerie is becoming the prominent voice for the LDS Church advocating for educating men around the harms of patriarchal indoctrination on male development. This work is yielding good results as more and more LDS men are becoming feminists in their own right and are declining traditional attitudes and roles of male privilege while speaking up for the equality needed to create a truly healthy community. Tune in to hear a narrative that merges deep love for tradition with a call for transformative change. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Self-Trust and Patriarchal Systems 00:42 Exploring Patriarchy in Season Three 01:29 Defining Patriarchy and Its Impact 03:08 Introducing Valerie Hamaker 03:35 Valerie Hamaker's Background and Work 06:34 Challenges and Resignation from the LDS Church 09:06 The Aftermath and Community Support 12:21 Understanding Patriarchal and Dominator Models 23:37 The Harmful Effects of Patriarchy on Men 24:13 Personal Experiences with Patriarchy 25:33 The Impact of Patriarchy on Men 28:52 Exploring Masculine and Feminine Energies 32:04 Patriarchy and Gender Norms 34:57 The Fragility of Patriarchal Structures 40:55 Hope for Egalitarianism in Church Structures 46:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    50 min

  7. 18 AUG

    357: Hands Off My Soul!

    Send us a Positive Review! In this episode Valerie is guest on the Parrish the Thought podcast where Brian Parrish interviews Val on the resistance she experienced from local priesthood leaders as a mental health worker tending to the complex issues of faith crisis in an institution that has yet to understand either the faith journey itself or widespread mental/relational/spiritual health issues that come from pathologizing the faith journey.  As we all know—fear of church leaders did not deter Val & Nathan and their love of YOU [their listeners!] is only stronger these many months following their crucible experience.   Moral of the story? Integrity breeds empowerment.  Listen in and feel empowered to own your own soul too! 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:25 Valerie's Background and Podcast Journey 01:49 Starting the Private Practice 03:57 Intersection of Faith and Mental Health 05:12 Challenges and Growth in the Church 07:06 Launching the Podcast 09:58 Therapeutic Insights and Faith Dynamics 21:41 Confronting Church Leadership 33:22 Complexities of Faith and Leadership 39:31 The Challenge of Updating Church Doctrine 42:25 Personal Journey and Podcast Impact 46:29 Facing Church Leadership 57:19 Decision to Withdraw Membership 01:05:17 Reflections on Church and Personal Integrity 01:16:25 Final Thoughts and Contact Information Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    1h 18m

  8. 11 AUG

    355: Finding Myself in the Wilderness of LDS: A Tale of Vulnerability & Bravery

    Send us a Positive Review! In this episode, Valerie shares an inspiring journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth with The Wholeness Network.  The theme was Brene Brown's exploration of the concept of "Braving the Wilderness" and on the heels of three years of learning to live & love one's truth at a potentially high social cost, Val felt that she had a couple of things to say about this.    This episode is a sharing of history, emotion on both ends of the spectrum and ultimately,  a tale of courage, compassion, and finding one's true place in the world.   00:00 Finding My Path: Early Struggles and Discoveries 00:40 A Surprising Call to Ministry 01:06 Discovering a Passion for Therapy 02:38 The Journey to Graduate School 03:18 Embracing Complexity in Faith and Life 04:40 Launching a Podcast: Unexpected Success 07:40 Understanding the Faith Journey 08:11 Stages of Faith and Personal Growth 10:25 Challenges and Courage in Faith Transitions 15:40 The Role of Compassion and Empathy 23:45 Trusting Oneself and Embracing the Divine Within 27:49 The Price and Reward of Spiritual Journeys 28:05 Experiences of Resonance and Support 33:28 Navigating Faith and Personal Growth 42:36 Understanding Patriarchy in Faith Communities 50:58 The Impact of Enmeshed Family Systems 58:22 Embracing Wholeness and Self-Integration  Afterward:  After their forced resignation from the LDS church in March of 2025, Val & Nathan were invited to share their stories on about a dozen podcasts.  Due to Nathan's currently heavy travel schedule, most of these guest appearances are (unfortunately!) just Valerie.  Thanks for sharing this journey with the Hamakers!  Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    1h 4m
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About

The Latter Day Struggles Podcast addresses beliefs and issues within the LDS faith that are challenging to talk about but vital to discuss for those trying to navigate their relationship in or around the church. Valerie and her guests invite psychological maturity, theological health, and institutional integrity. 

Information

  • Creator
    Valerie Hamaker
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    255
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Latter Day Struggles
  • Show Website
    Latter Day Struggles

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