Blame it on Mel

This week on Blame It On Mel, we sit down for part two with Jen Turner, whose entire relationship history was shaped—and shattered—by Mormon culture. From being groomed by a missionary at 16, to bishops blaming her for her husband’s abusive violence that almost took her life, to being excommunicated after reporting sexual abuse, her story exposes the patterns the LDS/Mormon Church works hard to hi...

This week on Blame It On Mel, we sit down with Jen Turner, whose entire relationship history was shaped—and shattered—by Mormon culture. From being groomed by a missionary at 16, to bishops blaming her for her husband’s abusive violence that almost took her life, to being excommunicated after reporting sexual abuse, her story exposes the patterns the LDS/Mormon Church works hard to hide. She exper...

This Thanksgiving episode is your annual reminder that peace is a privilege—and not everyone qualifies. Today I’m talking about closing your circle, protecting your energy, and why the loudest people talking ABOUT you are always the ones who’ve never spoken TO you. We’re unpacking jealousy, insecurity, fake friends, family drama, and the wild expectation that you should keep making room for people...

In Part Two of this two-episode series, therapist Ashley joins me to break down the psychology of growing up in a high-control religion and what religious trauma really looks like beneath the surface. We dig into the emotional patterns so many former Mormons carry — the fear-based decision making, worthiness culture, obedience conditioning, purity rules, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the con...

In Part One of this two-episode series, therapist Ashley joins me to break down the psychology of growing up in a high-control religion and what religious trauma really looks like beneath the surface. We dig into the emotional patterns so many former Mormons carry — the fear-based decision making, worthiness culture, obedience conditioning, purity rules, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the con...

Think your kid isn’t getting recruited because of politics or bad luck? Think again. Coaches don’t recruit parents—they recruit players. If you’re texting every week, shagging balls at practice, hanging around every huddle, or buying the coach beers, you’re that parent. In this episode, Mel breaks down how to actually get recruited, what college coaches are really looking for, and how to let your...

At 18, my husband was an All-American water polo player recruited by UCLA and top Division 1 programs. But in Mormon culture, college dreams get replaced by mission calls. Instead of dorms and D1 competition, he spent two years in Nova Scotia, Canada as an LDS missionary—baptizing strangers in freezing water and wondering how faith could cost so much. When he came home, everything had changed: the...

Okay, real talk—what makes someone sign up to be the second wife? This isn’t Sister Wives—it’s Amy’s real life, complete with faith, polygamy, infertility, and way too many feelings. Amy opens up about her time in a polygamist marriage, life inside Mormon fundamentalism (FLDS), and what happens when you realize the “forever family plan” comes with fine print. We talk PCOS, infertility, IVF, miscar...

Okay, real talk—what makes someone sign up to be the second wife ? This isn’t Sister Wives —it’s Amy’s real life , complete with faith, polygamy, infertility, and way too many feelings. Amy opens up about her time in a polygamist marriage, life inside Mormon fundamentalism (FLDS), and what happens when you realize the “forever family plan” comes with fine print. We talk PCOS, infertility, IVF, mis...

Frank grew up as a pastor’s kid — no drinking, no swearing, no sex until marriage. Fast-forward to now: he’s a Marine veteran who drinks, swears, and lives unapologetically real. From holding high school track records to serving in the U.S. Marines, to watching his wife battle cancer and lose her chance at motherhood, Frank’s story is one of faith, loss, grit, and growth. We dig into men’s mental...

Blamers — stay ‘til the end for the extras… that’s where the real tea spills. This week, I walked into dinner with friends and walked out with “f*** you,” “f*** off,” and a full-blown friendship audit. Boundaries were set, receipts were pulled, and I learned exactly who’s sitting at my table — and who’s not. But the chaos didn’t stop there. My son’s been raising havoc, my daughter tore her ACL and...

Tawny opens up about her fight with Breast Implant Illness (BII) — from the first red flags doctors ignored to the $17,000 explant surgery that finally gave her life back. We talk about women’s health, body image, and the moment she realized healing meant taking her power back. If you’ve ever battled chronic fatigue, unexplained symptoms, or regret after cosmetic surgery, this episode is for you....

Diet Coke, cheating, and celestial loopholes — welcome to Mormon Ken Barbie. In this episode, I sit down with my husband — a returned missionary, bishopric member, Young Men’s President, seminary grad, and Eagle Scout — for an unfiltered dive into Mormon culture, temple life, and church leadership. We tackle the questions you’ve always wanted answered: • What are the 3 kingdoms of heaven? • What’s...

Your doctor says your labs are “normal,” but you still feel off. In this episode, we dive into the truth about hormones, peptides, stem cells, and all the wellness hacks traditional medicine doesn’t want you talking about. From testosterone therapy and thyroid balance to semaglutide injections, the O-shot, and yes—amazing orgasms—this is your unfiltered guide to taking your health, hormones, and s...

Katie never fit the mold of the “typical Mormon housewife” — and this episode proves she never tried to. From temple marriage and infertility struggles to religious pressure, sexual double standards, and the quiet expectations that break women down, Katie’s story flips the script on faith and femininity. She put her husband through dental school, worked to support their family, and once he became...

I was the picture-perfect Mormon housewife — temple marriage, five kids, and a husband in the bishopric. But behind the façade were secrets, scandals, and cover-ups I was told to protect in the name of faith. Until I didn’t. I gave the bishop the middle finger, lit a match, and walked away from the perfect Mormon life everyone thought I had. I really am to blame — and I’ll take all the blame. This...

I was the picture-perfect Mormon housewife — temple marriage, five kids, and a husband in the bishopric. But behind the façade were secrets, scandals, and cover-ups I was told to protect in the name of faith. Until I didn’t. I gave the bishop the middle finger, lit a match, and walked away from the perfect Mormon life everyone thought I had. I really am to blame — and I’ll take all the blame. This...