Blame it on Mel

What happens when a returned missionary, temple-married seminary teacher, and Church employee starts reading the very documents meant to defend the LDS Church—and discovers they raise more questions than answers? In this episode of Blame It on Mel , we sit down with a former LDS seminary teacher who dedicated his life to teaching Mormon doctrine before eventually leaving his career, rebuilding his...

Mariama grew up a Black Mormon in the UK. Served a mission. Defended the LDS Church. Then she started asking questions. This week on Blame It On Mel, Mariama shares her journey out of Mormonism after reading the CES Letter, the trauma from having a racist mission trainer, confronting the Church’s history of racism, and realizing that many of the explanations she was given as a Black member caused...

Annie Marie became a viral sensation by turning the quirks, contradictions, and awkward moments of Mormon culture into comedy gold. Raised in the LDS Church by a Spanish mother who met her father on his mission, Annie grew up feeling like an outsider after her parents divorced—a reality that carried its own stigma in Mormon communities. In this episode, Annie shares hilarious and eye-opening stori...

Annie Marie became a viral sensation by turning the quirks, contradictions, and awkward moments of Mormon culture into comedy gold. Raised in the LDS Church by a Spanish mother who met her father on his mission, Annie grew up feeling like an outsider after her parents divorced—a reality that carried its own stigma in Mormon communities. In this episode, Annie shares hilarious and eye-opening stori...

I sit down with Natasha Helfer — the sex therapist, former Mormon therapist, and outspoken advocate who was excommunicated by the LDS/Mormon church after challenging purity culture, shame-based teachings, and the harm many experience inside high-demand religion. You may recognize her from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, but this conversation goes way deeper than reality TV. We talk about Mormoni...

I sit down with Natasha Helfer — the sex therapist, former Mormon therapist, and outspoken advocate who was excommunicated by the LDS/Mormon church after challenging purity culture, shame-based teachings, and the harm many experience inside high-demand religion. You may recognize her from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, but this conversation goes way deeper than reality TV. We talk about Mormoni...

Celia LeBaron

Celia LeBaron—Daughters of a Cult This episode is not just a story… it’s a reality most people wouldn’t survive. We’re diving into the terrifying world of the LeBaron polygamist cult, led by Ervil LeBaron and Joel LeBaron—where power, control, and so-called “revelation” justified manipulation, child marriage, and murder. From the doctrine of blood atonement to ordered killings, this is what happen...

What happens when you’re still alive… but your children are gone? In this raw, unfiltered episode of Blame It on Mel, we sit down with a mother who shares the unthinkable—being cut off from her own children. Not by distance. Not by death. But by lies, silence, control, and a patriarchy that shaped the narrative without her voice. We dive into the reality of parental alienation, religious control,...

What happens when you’re still alive… but your children are gone? In this raw, unfiltered episode of Blame It on Mel , we sit down with a mother who shares the unthinkable—being cut off from her own children. Not by distance. Not by death. But by lies, silence, control, and a patriarchy that shaped the narrative without her voice. We dive into the reality of parental alienation, religious control,...

What happens when you hand religion to a comedian and say nothing is off limits ? Comedian Josh Benson joins me to break down controversial beliefs-especially inside LDS / Mormon culture-from multiple heavens and becoming gods to temple rituals, sacred garments, and evolving doctrine. And yes… I even put on temple ceremony clothes for Josh’s entertainment 😳 We also get into:     •    Fear-based v...

What happens when you hand religion to a comedian and say nothing is off limits? Comedian Josh Benson joins me to break down controversial beliefs-especially inside LDS / Mormon culture-from multiple heavens and becoming gods to temple rituals, sacred garments, and evolving doctrine. And yes… I even put on temple ceremony clothes for Josh’s entertainment 😳 We also get into:     •    Fear-based vs...

What happens when the life you were taught to live doesn’t match who you truly are? In this powerful episode of Blame It on Mel, Amazon #1 bestselling author Jeanette Griggs shares her deeply personal journey growing up in the LDS (Mormon) church, where she spent years believing something was wrong with her for having feelings for another woman. Jeanette did everything she was taught to do. She se...

What happens when the life you were taught to live doesn’t match who you truly are? In this powerful episode of Blame It on Mel , Amazon #1 bestselling author Jeanette Griggs shares her deeply personal journey growing up in the LDS (Mormon) church , where she spent years believing something was wrong with her for having feelings for another woman. Jeanette did everything she was taught to do. She...

What happens when your last name is on a building at BYU-Idaho… and you’re gay? In this raw, unfiltered episode of Blame It on Mel, Jamison Manwaring opens up about growing up in a prominent LDS family, serving a mission, and silently battling the belief that being gay was something he could fix, pray away, or outgrow. Did he bargain with God? Did the mission help—or make the internal conflict wor...

What happens when your last name is on a building at BYU-Idaho… and you’re gay? In this raw, unfiltered episode of Blame It on Mel , Jamison Manwaring opens up about growing up in a prominent LDS family, serving a mission, and silently battling the belief that being gay was something he could fix, pray away, or outgrow. Did he bargain with God? Did the mission help—or make the internal conflict wo...

Michelle Dunn grew up in a deeply religious Mormon family where abuse was protected and silence was expected. For years, she carried a secret that was never hers to hold. As a child, she was abused by her grandfather — a respected bishop in the LDS church — who had also abused his own daughters, granddaughters, and countless others. He never faced jail time. The family kept it quiet. Until Michell...

Michelle Dunn grew up in a deeply religious Mormon family where abuse was protected and silence was expected. For years, she carried a secret that was never hers to hold. As a child, she was abused by her grandfather — a respected bishop in the LDS church — who had also abused his own daughters, granddaughters, and countless others. He never faced jail time. The family kept it quiet. Until Michell...

Trigger warning: This episode speaks about self harm and suicidal ideation. What happens when the life you were promised starts hurting your body? In this episode, Braadyn — creator, photographer, wife, mother, and survivor of religious conditioning — shares her story of growing up Mormon, internalizing the “temple dream,” and realizing that worth, happiness, and belonging were tied to obedience i...

Trigger warning: This episode speaks about self harm and suicidal ideation. What happens when the life you were promised starts hurting your body? In this episode, Braadyn — creator, photographer, wife, mother, and survivor of religious conditioning — shares her story of growing up Mormon, internalizing the “temple dream,” and realizing that worth, happiness, and belonging were tied to obedience i...

After surviving an arranged marriage orchestrated by her bishop, Suzanne Hobbs refused to let that chapter define the rest of her life. Suzanne served a mission, returned home, and began pursuing her education and a career in broadcasting—only to be told by her bishop that she was setting a poor example for young women by choosing ambition over marriage and motherhood. He informed her that a man i...

Amanda grew up inside a modern polygamist group rooted in early Mormon fundamentalism — where obedience meant survival, purity culture controlled bodies, and questioning authority came at a devastating cost. In Part 1 of this raw and unfiltered conversation, Amanda exposes what life was really like inside polygamy and a high-control religious system. She shares the truth about her family structure...

Amanda grew up inside a modern polygamist group rooted in early Mormon fundamentalism — where obedience meant survival, purity culture controlled bodies, and questioning authority came at a devastating cost. In Part 1 of this raw and unfiltered conversation, Amanda exposes what life was really like inside polygamy and a high-control religious system. She shares the truth about her family structure...

Heather did everything right… according to the Mormon (LDS) church. She grew up Mormon, followed all the rules, attended BYU-Idaho, internalized purity culture, and married at just 19 years old—partly because waiting to have sex wasn’t an option she could survive in that system. The night before her temple sealing, she cried and begged God to stop the marriage. He didn’t. Heather went on to have f...

Heather did everything right… according to the Mormon (LDS) church. She grew up Mormon, followed all the rules, attended BYU-Idaho, internalized purity culture, and married at just 19 years old—partly because waiting to have sex wasn’t an option she could survive in that system. The night before her temple sealing, she cried and begged God to stop the marriage. He didn’t. Heather went on to have f...