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In this eye-opening episode Valerie is a guest on the Inside Out Podcast with Ian Wilkes and Jim Bennett, where they dive deep into the complexities of women's roles within the LDS Church, locking in on the recent garment policy shifts.

You might be surprised to learn Valerie’s take on this topic. A hint: adding women leaders to these policy-making gatherings is NOT the answer to this conundrum where it seems that thousands of LDS women across the belief & practice spectrum are frustrated. Tune in to explore a thought-provoking discussion on equality, institutional overreach, and the beauty (and simplicity) that unfolds when humans are given the dignity to manage their own underwear drawers.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:31 Jim's Experience in Argentina

01:47 Special Guest: Valerie Hamaker

02:16 Valerie's Background and Podcast

04:50 Challenges of Patriarchy in the Church

06:18 Authority and Decision Making in the Church

16:35 Impact of Patriarchy on Men and Women

22:17 Garment Controversy and Gender Equality

30:21 Church Surveys and Member Feedback

35:38 The Problems with Fundamentalism

36:38 Controlling Dress and Underwear

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In this heartwarming episode, Val is the guest on the Therapy Brothers podcast hosted by brothers & fellow relationship therapists Brannon and Tyler Patrick.

The topic is navigating the choppy waters of a marriage in distress due to the faith journey of one of the partners--a demographic of couples that is multiplying rapidly.

The bottom line? A faith transition can (and has) weakened or destroyed many a marriage. But guess what? A faith transition can actually strengthen a marriage in ways that virtually nothing else can--if both partners have the framework and the tools.

Listen in as Valerie shares her experiences and strategies helping countless distressed couples rediscover love by:

• redefining what healthy marriage is
• focusing on values over beliefs
• embracing discomfort for growth
• fostering deep connections through compassion, curiosity, and healthy differentiation of self.

Whether you're in a faith-expanding journey or just want to deepen your relationship, this episode is packed with wisdom to guide you through the intricate dance of intimate relationship & spiritual evolution.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Going Live

00:33 Weekend Stories and Parenting

02:33 Introducing Valerie Hamer

04:00 Valerie's Professional Journey

06:08 Navigating Faith and Relationships

11:49 The Role of Compassion and Understanding

32:39 Process Over Content in Relationships

42:14 Valerie's Resources and Conclusion

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In this episode Valerie is the guest on the podcast Black & White & Gold hosted by Carly and Rob Allred where they engage in a compelling conversation on gender and faith.

Valerie is becoming the prominent voice for the LDS Church advocating for educating men around the harms of patriarchal indoctrination on male development. This work is yielding good results as more and more LDS men are becoming feminists in their own right and are declining traditional attitudes and roles of male privilege while speaking up for the equality needed to create a truly healthy community.

Tune in to hear a narrative that merges deep love for tradition with a call for transformative change.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Self-Trust and Patriarchal Systems

00:42 Exploring Patriarchy in Season Three

01:29 Defining Patriarchy and Its Impact

03:08 Introducing Valerie Hamaker

03:35 Valerie Hamaker's Background and Work

06:34 Challenges and Resignation from the LDS Church

09:06 The Aftermath and Community Support

12:21 Understanding Patriarchal and Dominator Models

23:37 The Harmful Effects of Patriarchy on Men

24:13 Personal Experiences with Patriarchy

25:33 The Impact of Patriarchy on Men

28:52 Exploring Masculine and Feminine Energies

32:04 Patriarchy and Gender Norms

34:57 The Fragility of Patriarchal Structures

40:55 Hope for Egalitarianism in Church Structures

46:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In this episode Valerie is guest on the Parrish the Thought podcast where Brian Parrish interviews Val on the resistance she experienced from local priesthood leaders as a mental health worker tending to the complex issues of faith crisis in an institution that has yet to understand either the faith journey itself or widespread mental/relational/spiritual health issues that come from pathologizing the faith journey.

As we all know—fear of church leaders did not deter Val & Nathan and their love of YOU [their listeners!] is only stronger these many months following their crucible experience.

Moral of the story? Integrity breeds empowerment.

Listen in and feel empowered to own your own soul too!

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:25 Valerie's Background and Podcast Journey
01:49 Starting the Private Practice
03:57 Intersection of Faith and Mental Health
05:12 Challenges and Growth in the Church
07:06 Launching the Podcast
09:58 Therapeutic Insights and Faith Dynamics
21:41 Confronting Church Leadership
33:22 Complexities of Faith and Leadership
39:31 The Challenge of Updating Church Doctrine
42:25 Personal Journey and Podcast Impact
46:29 Facing Church Leadership
57:19 Decision to Withdraw Membership
01:05:17 Reflections on Church and Personal Integrity
01:16:25 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

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In this episode, Valerie shares an inspiring journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth with The Wholeness Network. The theme was Brene Brown's exploration of the concept of "Braving the Wilderness" and on the heels of three years of learning to live & love one's truth at a potentially high social cost, Val felt that she had a couple of things to say about this.

This episode is a sharing of history, emotion on both ends of the spectrum and ultimately, a tale of courage, compassion, and finding one's true place in the world.

00:00 Finding My Path: Early Struggles and Discoveries

00:40 A Surprising Call to Ministry

01:06 Discovering a Passion for Therapy

02:38 The Journey to Graduate School

03:18 Embracing Complexity in Faith and Life

04:40 Launching a Podcast: Unexpected Success

07:40 Understanding the Faith Journey

08:11 Stages of Faith and Personal Growth

10:25 Challenges and Courage in Faith Transitions

15:40 The Role of Compassion and Empathy

23:45 Trusting Oneself and Embracing the Divine Within

27:49 The Price and Reward of Spiritual Journeys

28:05 Experiences of Resonance and Support

33:28 Navigating Faith and Personal Growth

42:36 Understanding Patriarchy in Faith Communities

50:58 The Impact of Enmeshed Family Systems

58:22 Embracing Wholeness and Self-Integration

Afterward: After their forced resignation from the LDS church in March of 2025, Val & Nathan were invited to share their stories on about a dozen podcasts. Due to Nathan's currently heavy travel schedule, most of these guest appearances are (unfortunately!) just Valerie. Thanks for sharing this journey with the Hamakers!

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In this exciting solo episode, Valerie reflects on the profound personal growth she has experienced over the past few months and shares her plans for what she is informally dubbing the "Latter Day Struggles 2.0" era.

In some ways, you will continue to get what you have come to expect--a respectful & honest conversation about all things Mormon through the lens of healthy psychology. Where 2.0 is going to shine is in several upcoming "Transcending & Including Mormonism" special series that will run every Friday for listeners looking to deepen their faith journey, finally get 'unstuck', or are hungry for their next wave of deepening growth.

Join Val in embarking on this new chapter, offering deeper, more holistic explorations of faith and consciousness.

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In this episode Val is a guest on the Join Latter Day Digest podcast & what unfolds is the very unlikely story that led to Val's and Nathan's eventual 'outlaw' status within the LDS church. Why is this so odd? Because this couple could not have been more traditionally believing for the majority of their lives--including spending most of their marriage following all of the traditional scripts of Mormonism...which in some ways worked and in other ways didn't work that well at all.

Then something happened within Val & Nathan (different life-shifting changes/crises) and their paradigms changed...radically. From living traditional roles prescribed by outside 'experts' on their lives to becoming passionate advocates of finding courage, truth, and God-connection within, Val shares a journey that might offer hope to anyone out there who thinks transformation isn't possible.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:22 Valerie's Early Life and Background

02:04 Young Women's Experience in the Church

04:33 Struggles with Traditional Gender Roles

10:06 Mission and College Years

16:25 Meeting Her Future Husband

18:53 Professional Aspirations and Challenges

22:01 Empathy and Helping Others

24:50 The Cost of Doing the Right Thing

25:22 Balancing Family and Career

25:48 Struggles of a Stay-at-Home Mom

27:44 Finding Joy and Autonomy

29:46 Guilt and Cognitive Dissonance

33:15 Pursuing a Career in Mental Health

36:43 Starting a Private Practice

41:10 The Birth of Latter Day Struggles Podcast

43:58 Helping Others Through Faith Expansion

47:05 Commitment to a Higher Calling

50:43 Conclusion and Future Plans

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Missed the LIVE Q&A where Val recently answered the flood of questions that have come in on the heels of her & Nathan's brave series venturing into the realm of politics, polarization & human/cultural evolution of consciousness?

In this Q&A Val takes some very challenging questions and walks you through ways in which politics & religion are reflections how people make sense of some of their ultimate concerns about themselves & others. Don't miss this episode if you have been inhaling their current Friday series or if you are thinking about inhaling it very soon!

00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Live Session
03:32 The Impact of Current Events on Mental Health
04:02 Human Growth and Development in Political Context
05:32 Introducing Latter Day Struggles 2.0
06:00 Transcend and Include: A New Approach to Faith
07:35 Understanding Human and Societal Development
09:47 Integral Theory and Its Relevance Today
11:22 Stages of Consciousness and Societal Growth
14:18 The Role of Politics in Human Development
19:43 Addressing Listener Questions
20:41 The Importance of Dialogue and Understanding
27:07 Personal Reflections and Political Evolution
47:46 Red Flags in Spiritual and Political Leaders
55:00 Talking to Children About Current Events
01:01:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89

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