Authors and Advocates

06/03/2023

"Christ turns out, when the natural man would turn in" -David Bednar

I internalized this quote when I was in the Missionary Training Center. I just read over my journal entry from an evening fireside, and with all the overwhelming amount of stimulation I felt at the MTC, I was trying to take the advice to forget my own needs and turn to help others.

In some cases it is good to just get out of your own head and do something, but that is ideal for cases of understimulation. In cases of overstimulation we need to take a break to pause, breathe, reflect, process, check in with ourselves, and procure some good self-care time.

To all those who were taught that taking time for yourself was giving in to an ungodly impulse, you are worthy of your own energy.

26/02/2023

I promised myself that I wouldn't let Authors and Advocates drag on past when people are still interested in listening, so if you are interested in more content, let me know! And if you are interested in a specific theme, or want me to go more in depth on any of the topics I have already covered, drop me a message or comment :) If I decide to do a season 2 of Authors and Advocates, I want to plan at least a topic for each episode before I start. I hope you have enjoyed listening as much as I have enjoyed sharing my thoughts and learning along with you!

-Carolyn

26/02/2023

How do you take the good things and leave behind the bad things when leaving the LDS church? How can you be bold and vulnerable when moving forward? What are the next steps for you to take? The world is your oyster, discover your own pearl of great price, and go forth to find it, make it, and become it. You are the Author of your life, its time to Advocate for it!

How do you take the good things and leave behind the bad things when leaving the LDS church? How can you be bold and vulnerable when moving forward? What are the next steps for you to take? The world is your oyster, discover your own pearl of great price, and go forth to find it, make it, and become...

12/02/2023

What is deceptive reasoning? In this episode we will discuss false avenues of logic that the LDS church uses, and how to recognize these fallacies. Launch yourself into a more authentic life with more positive critical thinking and perspective.

What is deceptive reasoning? In this episode we will discuss false avenues of logic that the LDS church uses, and how to recognize these fallacies. Launch yourself into a more authentic life with more positive critical thinking and perspective. Logical Fallacies Critical Thinking

29/01/2023

Did Racism in the LDS church end in 1978? Join me and my guest, Sherry Eyahpaise, as we talk about where racism in the church comes from, how it still continues to effect one Indigenous woman in Canada, and how to be more racially sensitive.

Did Racism in the LDS church end in 1978? Join me and my guest, Sherry Eyahpaise, as we talk about where racism in the church comes from, and how it still continues to effect one Indigenous woman in Canada. mindfulness and racial bias

15/01/2023

If you've ever asked yourself if q***r people really have a place in God's plan, this episode is for you. Why doesn't the church have a healthy or realistic view of gay, trans, non-binary, or other q***r-identifying people? Join me and my guest, Noah Mackenzie, gay man by day, drag queen by night, as we dive into the effects the LDS church had on one q***r youth.

If you've ever asked yourself if people really have a place in God's plan, this episode is for you. Why doesn't the church have a healthy or realistic view of , trans, non-binary, or other -identifying people? Join me and my guest, Noah Mackenzie, man by day, drag queen by night, as we dive into the...

01/01/2023

Many of us spent time and energy defending the LDS church from the term "cult". It has become an ugly word. While you may have experienced beautiful things in your time at church, in this episode we take a dive into some of the ugly things encouraged purposefully or accidentally within the LDS church.

Many of us spent time and energy defending the LDS church from the term "cult". It is an ugly word. While you may have experienced beautiful things in your time at church, in this episode we take a dive into some of the ugly things encouraged purposefully or accidentally within the LDS church. BITE....

31/12/2022

Getting ready for tomorrow's episode! Overcoming Crazy Theories and Death Wishes.

"By having young men perform public responsibilities that they are disqualified from participating in if they don't adhere to the religious rules, the leadership is able to more closely monitor their behaviour and religious observance... The church grooms the youth to always keep their statutes when they are young, so when they are older they will remember the shame they felt when they were most susceptible to shame, as a teenager."

11/12/2022

Check out my new episode! Letting Go of Gender Roles and Sexism

Have you wondered what influence the church may have on the way you view women or gender roles? Do you ever feel like you have to downplay your feelings because a man in your life has stated the opposite? Come learn about the sexism the church instilled in you, and how to break out of the box they created for you.

Have you wondered what influence the church may have on the way you view women or gender roles? Do you ever feel like you have to downplay your feelings because a man in your life has stated the opposite? Come learn about the sexism the church instilled in you, and how to break out of the box they c...

08/12/2022

Sneak peek into this Sunday's episode!

"Even though there have been conference talks that say that women should get an education, it is always as an afterthought. Women should get an education.. in case their husband can't provide for them, or in case they can't get married. The gender role for women to care for children, always is portrayed to outweigh the advice to get educated.

How many Mormon women self-sabotage themselves because of this, and don't put a lot of thought into a career, and end up with employment they don't care about?"

This week's episode is all about overcoming gender roles and sexism, stay tuned!!!

27/11/2022

Do you ever feel like you're always giving and end up exhausted because of it? Boundaries are referred to a lot in our society, but what are they actually, and why and how should someone go about setting them?

Do you ever feel like you're always giving and end up exhausted because of it? Boundaries are referred to a lot in our society, but what are they actually, and why and how should someone go about setting them? Boundaries Friendships

23/11/2022

"People pleasers are often taken advantage of by others, because they are often so busy taking care of others needs, that they don't take care of their own needs. Some people pleasers try to make others like them so much that they feel like they can't be themself around some people. Because they haven't been truely themself, they might never feel truely accepted in that relationship."

Exerpt from the next episode, Friendships and Boundaries!!!

13/11/2022

Have you ever felt like you couldn't trust your feelings because church doctrine didn't agree with them? There are many tools the church uses to manipulate and even gaslight its members. Join me in discovering some of the ways the church uses coercion.

Have you ever felt like you couldn't trust your feelings because church doctrine didn't agree with them? There are many tools the church uses to manipulate and even gaslight its members. Join me in discovering some of the ways the church uses coercion. Red Flags Is someone gaslighting you

30/10/2022

Just published episode 4! Having Healthy Discussions with your Partner. It can be hard to express yourself well. With a task as big as explaining why you want to leave the church with your partner, it is important to create a healthy environment for discussion. How is your attitude effecting how they receive your message? How do you maintain a good connection and discussion?

It can be hard to express yourself well. With a task as big as explaining why you want to leave the church with your partner, it is important to create a healthy environment for discussion. How is your attitude effecting how they receive your message? How do you maintain a good connection and discus...

27/10/2022

Sneak peak into this coming episode!!! I think you're going to love it!

Passive Aggression is important to understand because instead of allowing themselves the dignity of expression, many members feel they must limit their ideas to comply with the rules or culture of the church. Instead of valuing their own thoughts and feelings enough that they express them with confidence, they might get huffy, or sarcastic.

16/10/2022

Episode 3 Existential Crisis and Changing Worldviews

When you experience a big change in your life, like leaving the church, some heavy emotions might follow. People often compare it to losing a loved one, and grieve its loss in their lives. Explore with us ways to cope with these feelings through the 5 stages of grief.

When you experience a big change in your life, like leaving the church, some heavy emotions might follow. People often compare it to losing a loved one, and grieve its loss in their lives. Explore with us ways to cope with these feelings. 5 stages of grief 5 stages

16/10/2022

Episode 2 Being IN the Church, but not OF the Church

What does it mean for your mental health to be around people who place expectations on you that you may not have for yourself? What influence does LDS Church culture have on how you act or show up in the world? We will discuss what the ego vs. authentic self means.

What does it mean for your mental health to be around people who place expectations on you that you may not have for yourself? What influence does LDS Church culture have on how you act or show up in the world? Ego vs. true self authentic self

16/10/2022

Episode 1 There is a place for you. You aren't crazy.

It can be hard to leave the Mormon church, even when the doctrine and culture don't feel right anymore. We will explore examples of why that happens, and how to ease the mental tension from cognitive dissonance.

It can be hard to leave the Mormon church, even when the doctrine and culture don't feel right anymore. We will explore examples of why that happens, and how to ease the mental tension from cognitive dissonance. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-cognitive-dissonance-2795012

16/10/2022

Now what?

You no longer feel like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is safe for you, or aligns with your beliefs. You feel that chapter of your life is closing. Now what? Authors and Advocates introduces tools to help you learn more about yourself so you can be a better author of your life and advocate for your needs.

I will post new podcast episodes biweekly on Sunday Mornings.

I hope you can find community and understanding in this crazy, exciting, uncharted adventure of your life.

-Carolyn