Gina Colvin, Dan Wotherspoon, and Kristy Money discuss common mental health issues listeners might be grappling with as they process the presidential election’s results. Kristy explains how important in-person connection is right now and some emotion regulation therapy tools, Dan talks about how to appreciate the goodness and humanity in everyone, and Gina expresses what she’s going to do going forward in a healthy way
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Kristy and April sit together in Kristy’s Athens Georgia living room to share how they met and April’s story of leaving the church 10 years ago. They’ve been friends for 2 years ever since their daughters became *best* friends in the same school, and only a couple months ago did they find out both had ties to Mormonism. Neither’s countenance gave off particularly Mormon or ex-Mormon vibes (note: sarcasm)–we had no idea. While April doesn’t hide her Mormon roots, she says it just doesn’t come up very much outside the Jello Belt. April’s ancestors were Joseph Smith’s neighbors in Nauvoo, and she left the church after moving from Idaho to Florida as a teenager because she felt something wasn’t quite right about the church’s shame culture. For listeners who are wondering if they’ll ever stop thinking about the Church, or if they’ll always give off Mormon vibes when they’re ready to move on, April’s story provides hope as she’s created a new life for herself and her daughter here in Georgia, still maintaining a positive relationship with her parents too. She reports not thinking about Mormonism very often, 10 years later.
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Humor’s positive psychological effects in times of stress are well-researched, so this episode applies the principle specifically to faith transitions through the lens of the dynamic duo behind the Brother Jake Videos: Erica and her husband Jake Frost. Together they share their backstories, including their faith transitions, how they met, and how they came up with Brother Jake. I think they’re both hilarious and I love how they are able to empathize with transitioners and want to help others through their journeys. Brother Jake fans and newcomers alike will get a kick out of this episode.
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Ryan McKnight talks about being contacted by the anonymous video leaker and releasing them for him/her. He shares his own faith transition story, how and why he’s contacted by so many whistle blowers, and the implications for these people. Ryan talks more in depth on the process of receiving information, protecting his sources, and deciding whether materials will make an impact. On a practical level, we also discuss conversion/deconversion and what to do with the videos for folks who want to eagerly share them. We talk about how quick the GA’s were in one video to look to parents as responsible for YSA’s inactivity, how that relates to control, and what we can do about it to protect our relationships. We end with Ryan telling us more about his project, The Underground Handcart Company, which helps youth and young adults who have already decided to leave the church, to get help and resources so they can support themselves if they get disowned, fired, shunned, etc.
Mentioned in this episode:
How to contact Underground Handcart Company
A summary of the videos for people who don’t want to spend 15+ hrs watching them
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