Blonde Apologist

In this episode, Jasmin Rappleye and I dive into the purpose and meaning behind the temple endowment and initiatory. We discuss why God uses symbolism, what ancient ritual teaches us about temple worship, the covenants we make, and why spiritual preparation matters before entering the temple. Whether you’re preparing to go for the first time or simply wanting a deeper understanding of temple worsh...

What does it look like to grow, dream, and build a beautiful life with God… without getting trapped in toxic perfectionism? This week, I’m joined by Lizzy Jensen for an honest conversation about personal growth, goal setting, and learning how to catch God’s vision for your life. We talk about aligning your ambitions with Christ, creating systems that actually help you grow, and why the gospel of J...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Jenet Erickson, BYU professor and researcher whose work on family, motherhood, and child wellbeing has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Today Show, to have a deeper conversation about the doctrine, culture, and research surrounding gender roles. Is there room for the career-driven woman in the gospel? What does “presiding” ac...

This week’s episode is a raw and honest conversation about believing in the gospel while struggling to live it. My friend shares her journey through pain, depression, addiction, and a suicide attempt, all while never fully losing her testimony. Her story is a powerful reminder that God does not walk away from us, even when we feel far from Him. We also talk about the pressure to be the “perfect” m...

When a spouse leaves the Church, it can feel like everything in your marriage shifts overnight. In this episode, I sit down with Iuri Melo, a licensed therapist with over 20 years of experience, to talk about what this actually looks and feels like for both people; the believing spouse and the one stepping away. We get into the emotions, the mistakes that can create more distance, and what actuall...

My husband’s back to join me in a discussion on the law of chastity. What actually counts as breaking the law of chastity? What’s “on and off limits” according to For the Strength of Youth? And how does this commandment look different in dating vs. marriage? In this episode we share our experience trying to live this imperfectly, talk about things like pornography and share our plans for teaching...

After receiving hundreds of your questions and concerns, I sat down with Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat and Dr. Richard LeDuc from The Standard of Truth Podcast to have an honest, thoughtful conversation about one of the most complex topics in Church history: polygamy. This episode doesn’t attempt to answer every question, but the Spirit was strongly present throughout the conversation. It explores how early...

In this episode, I share my thoughts on the new season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and why I’ve decided I won’t be watching anymore. I talk about the sadness I feel for the families and children affected, the uncomfortable feelings the show stirred for me, and some common online reactions about gospel living, family roles, and media portrayals of our faith. I end with a reminder this Easte...

Is it possible to grow while raising kids? In this episode, Montana Coles and I talk about developing ourselves in motherhood, avoiding comparison, making mom friends, and partnering with Christ through the highs and the lows.

In 2016, Amy Allebest’s essay Dear Mormon Men sparked a lot of conversation inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For many members, the essay feels uncomfortable—or even threatening—because it raises questions about gender, authority, and women’s experiences in the Church. In this episode, I sit down with Amy Watkins Jensen, the voice behind Women on the Stand, to talk through so...

What does it look like to stay in the Church while carrying experiences that are often misunderstood? In this episode my guest, Trevor Schoeny, shares his story of growing up gay in the Church, navigating scrupulosity and trauma, sustaining Church leadership, and discerning how he would raise his future children in the faith. My hope is that conversations like this help us build more understanding...

What does it actually mean for women to have priesthood power? Today I’m joined by Dr. Barbara Morgan Gardner to dig into priesthood power, women’s roles, and how the Church talks about both. Together, we address common misconceptions, challenge oversimplified narratives, and share personal experiences of how women access, exercise, and recognize priesthood power in their everyday lives. If you’ve...

More Latter-day Saints struggle with religious OCD, or scrupulosity, than we often realize. For those who face it, obsessive anxiety can twist gospel living into a cycle of fear and toxic guilt, and many even mistake that guilt for promptings from the Spirit. In this episode, therapist Annabella Hagen helps us understand what scrupulosity is, how it shows up in our culture, and how we can stay con...

Today we’re going through all the claims made about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the newest season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Season 3 gives us plenty to unpack! We’re going to discuss m the Book of Mormon’s racial history, how Latter-day Saints view the LGBTQ community, if we can “earn” God’s love, and what “fighting the patriarchy” doesn’t look like as a Mormon wo...

Mary Alice from the What Now podcast is basically the OG “blonde apologist,” and I adore her. She’s been tackling hard gospel topics from a place of deep faith for years, and this conversation left me thinking long after we stopped recording. We talked about how she felt called to start her podcast, the shifts she hopes to see in our Church culture, and how we can build better bridges with those w...

After losing her baby boy just one day after birth, my guest shares how she found strength, faith, and healing through unimaginable heartbreak. Together we talk about the tender mercies that carried her, how she’s learned to reconcile loss through the gospel, and the quiet ways she still feels connected to her son in heaven.

You guys sent in some deep questions, and we’re diving into all of it: navigating confusing parts of Church history, how to handle doubts when faith feels shaky, frustrations with garments, and finding your spark again in marriage. We also talk about judgmental family dynamics, forgiveness, and staying connected when a spouse leaves the Church. Thanks for being here, now let’s dive in!

Today I’m joined by Matt Whitaker, director of the new film Truth and Treason, which tells the remarkable true story of Helmuth Hübener, a teenage Latter-day Saint who stood up to Hitler’s regime and paid the ultimate price for speaking truth. We talk about what drew Matt to Helmuth’s story, how faith shaped this young man’s courage, and what his example can teach us about standing for truth in ou...

This conversation with Shima Baughman hits so many of the things I feel like women of our faith wrestle with: career, motherhood, timing, guilt, and how to actually let God lead without losing yourself in the process. We talk about what it looks like to make big life decisions without the social or church pressure, how to stop comparing your timeline to everyone else’s, and how confidence shows up...

Dating can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. In this fun, big-sis-style episode, I sit down with Sarah Sweeten to talk all things dating—navigating today’s culture, waiting for missionaries, boosting confidence in your single season, and spotting the red and green flags that matter most.

Do you struggle to have inspiring scripture studies? Me too! In this episode, I’m joined by Amber Dawn Pearce to explore why scripture study often feels like a checklist and how to fix it. She shares her favorite scripture story, practical tips for pulling more meaning out of your studies, and simple ways to make time for your studies so you can feel more connection to God. Ambers Podcast: https:/...

This episode starts with my reflections on the recent tragedy in Utah and the need for disciples of Christ to be peacemakers in a divided world. Then I sit down with a friend who, after a traumatic birth, found healing and joy through the Savior’s Atonement. We talk about how Christ can truly heal and transform us, and she shares practical advice for what to do when you notice parts of yourself yo...

Pornography is such common struggle in our faith community, yet one of the least talked about. Too often it’s surrounded by silence, shame, and fear. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife to unpack how we can approach this topic with honesty, compassion, and faith. We talk about how to respond when a loved one is struggling, how to have open conversations while dating or par...

Social media loves to tell women in the Church what their experience is supposed to be, and it’s rarely positive. In this episode I’m pushing back. While acknowledging the major concerns critics of our Church have, I’m sharing why I believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is actually the best place for women, and how our doctrine gives us divine identity, equal partnership, and dir...

What do you do when your best friend leaves the church? When a sibling votes differently than you? Or when a spouse no longer believes what you believe? In this episode, I’m joined by marriage and family therapist Emily Robins to talk about how to navigate these tricky conversations with compassion and confidence. We explore what it looks like to hold to your values without cutting people off, and...