Episodios

  • What if General Conference is Difficult? Lift+Love Podcast Ep#62

    What if General Conference is Difficult? Lift+Love Podcast Ep#62
    Mar 24 2026

    Episode 62 - What if General Conference is Difficult? (with thegeneralconferenceproject)

    **content warning - brief mentions of loss of a child, military-related PTSD, and general statements about faith transitions, anxiety/depression and the hurt that people may feel because of the messages they hear from church leaders**

    Episode hosts Allison Dayton and Darice Auston are joined by Lynell and Kendall Rogers, the mother-daughter duo behind the @thegeneralconferenceproject Instagram account, which has been providing inclusive real-time updates about General Conference on social media during all sessions since 2021.

    Lynell Rogers is the social media manager for Lift+Love. She and her daughter Kendall (now a master’s student at George Washington University) created @thegeneralconferenceproject on Instagram. Even though they only post 2 weekends a year, @thegeneralconferenceproject has grown a significant following of 8000 subscribers, with an incredible 1 million post views in October 2025.

    While Lynell was seeking out resources that could be recommended in a Lift+Love post about preparing for General Conference, Kendall recommended social media accounts that do updates about the Confernece, but they were unable to find any. What started as an effort to fill that need for Christ-centered content and quotes from the Conference in a safe and inclusive place, @thegeneralconferenceproject has evolved into brief summaries of each talk and announcement, with careful notes about potentially sensitive topics, which many followers (who often don’t listen to the conference sessions live) use to help them determine if a talk will be helpful for them.

    Why would anyone be anxious about listen to General Conference? Why would someone need a heads-up about the content of a talk? They discuss how uncertainty and past hurt can contribute to a stressful conference experience and how the project helps reduce anxiety, support lesson planning, and allow participation in accessible ways. They emphasize compassion, curiosity, and keeping people connected to each other and Christ.

    Meet Lynell and Kendall

    How They Connected

    Why Start the General Conference Project

    How It Has Evolved

    Understanding Conference Anxiety

    Representation and Inclusion

    How to Use the Resource

    Christlike Curiosity and Empathy

    Gratitude

    Join Lynell and Kendall every General Conference weekend (during all sessions) on Instagram @thegeneralconference.com

    Learn more about Lynell on the Lift+Love website here

    or contact her at lynell@liftandlove.org

    The Faith Matters podcast episode that Allison references (re: central nervous system crisis) is When Your Faith Breaks (with Tucker Boyle)

    Find the transcript of this episode here: www.liftandlove.org/podcast

    Find the video version of this episode on our Youtube channel here

    Find resources, support meetings, events, and community on the Lift+Love website here: www.liftandlove.org
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    33 m
  • Holy Saturday - with Dr Ben Schilaty - Lift+Love Podcast Episode #61

    Holy Saturday - with Dr Ben Schilaty - Lift+Love Podcast Episode #61
    Mar 17 2026
    **content warning - description of witnessing a medical emergency that was thought to be the death of a parent, mourning the death of a parent, Alzheimers disease** Social work professor and therapist Dr. Ben Schilaty joins episode hosts Allison Dayton and Darice Auston on the Lift+Love podcast to discuss the concept of Holy Saturday—the silent, uncertain day between Good Friday and Easter—and how it mirrors unresolved grief and waiting for redemption. Ben shares a painful experience visiting his mother with advanced Alzheimers, and how that crisis led him to reflect on “loss that has not yet found resolution,” learning to hold present pain alongside hope in Christ’s resurrection. After his mother later passed away, he describes unexpected sorrow and healing moments. The hosts connect Holy Saturday’s stillness and uncertainty to faith journeys in the LGBTQ Latter day Saint space, emphasizing trusting God, and navigating ongoing tensions around belonging, church policies, and romantic relationships. 00:00 Meet Ben Schilaty 01:28 What Is Holy Saturday 03:58 Ben's Mother 07:24 Quote That Clicked 08:59 Holding Pain And Hope 10:42 After Mom Passed 13:08 Grief Surprises 15:16 Lessons In Uncertainty 16:32 Trusting Gods Plan 19:34 Faith Beyond Certainty 21:31 Trust God Moments 22:59 Belonging and Warmth 24:50 Liberty Jail Stillness 27:13 Cherry Tree Tension 29:13 Actively Single Choice 31:55 Eternal Hope in Christ 34:11 Alzheimers and Resurrection 36:49 Trust When Dark Find more information about Dr. Ben Schilaty on his website here Ben's book "A Walk in My Shoes" is available in the Lift+Love online store here "The Sin of Certainty" by Peter Enns is available here

    Find the transcript of this episode here: www.liftandlove.org/podcast

    Find resources, support meetings, events, and community on the Lift+Love website here: www.liftandlove.org
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    35 m
  • Dania - A Mother Reflects on Parenting an LGBTQ+ Child - Episode #60

    Dania - A Mother Reflects on Parenting an LGBTQ+ Child - Episode #60
    Mar 10 2026

    Lift+Love episode #60 "Dania - A Mother Reflects on Parenting an LGBTQ+ Child"

    Episode hosts Allison Dayton and Jenie Hunter welcome guest Dania Alvarez for the first in a new podcast episode series featuring mothers with LGBTQ+ children sharing the lessons they have learned in their personal journeys.

    Dania Alvarez is a real estate agent and mother of three (including an adult daughter who came out as LGBTQ+ as a teen). Dania describes how her home’s religious practice has shifted as she is now the only one attending church weekly. She talks about her daughter's healthy and loving relationship with her girlfriend Bella and how they love Bella as part of the family. She shares how she has been successful in creating a safe, respectful space where she can still express testimony, maintain simple rituals like family dinner and prayer, and separate "worth" from church activity. Dania advises moms to give themselves grace, get support elsewhere so children don’t carry parents’ emotions, protect a child’s identity, and focus on healthy relationships, love, and growth in Christlike capacity.

    Find the transcript of this episode here: www.liftandlove.org/podcast

    Find resources, support meetings, events, and community on the Lift+Love website here: www.liftandlove.org
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    33 m
  • How to Build Your Testimony As the Parent of An LGBTQ Child - Ep 59 Lift+Love Podcast

    How to Build Your Testimony As the Parent of An LGBTQ Child - Ep 59 Lift+Love Podcast
    Mar 3 2026
    Lift+Love Podcast Episode #59- How to Build Your Testimony as the Parent of an LGBTQ Child Allison Dayton reintroduces Lift+Love’s most-listened-to April 2022 podcast episode, re-introduced for a new audience, featuring a conversation with episode co-host Jenie Hunter and guest Anita Ervin (who leads Lift+Love’s Trans Parent Support Group). Prompted by a friend’s sincere question about how Anita stays active in a church that is often perceived to be “against” LGBTQ people, Anita shares a three-part framework for “deconstructing and reconstructing” testimony: focusing first on Jesus Christ and His grace to overcome fear and hopelessness; maintaining faith in the restored gospel through the Book of Mormon and belief that revelation is ongoing; and viewing the church as an imperfect organization led by people learning over time. They discuss practicing non-judgment, responding with love after strong emotions, advocating with leaders to reduce harm to youth, and staying to strengthen community and make church safer for families. 00:00 Podcast Throwback Intro 01:48 Mamas Retreat Highlights 03:21 Why Community Matters 05:07 The Big Question Staying 07:32 Point One - Focus on Christ 08:50 Deconstructing Culture Fear 14:06 Protecting Hope 16:30 Point Two - Restored Gospel 17:33 More Revelation Ahead 18:47 Learning Line Upon Line 20:23 Grace Through Change 21:22 Hope Amid Division 22:40 Part Three- Leaders Are Learning Too 25:17 Dropping Judgment 26:18 Advocating With Love 30:58 Called To Stay 34:40 Cairns On The Path 37:17 Rituals For Hard Days 38:01 Trading Pearls For Truth 39:36 Community And Farewell

    Find the transcript of this episode here: www.liftandlove.org/podcast

    Find resources, support meetings, events, and community on the Lift+Love website here: www.liftandlove.org
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    41 m
  • Sodom and Gomorrah - Its Effect on the LGBTQ Community (with Dan McClellan) - Ep 58

    Sodom and Gomorrah - Its Effect on the LGBTQ Community (with Dan McClellan) - Ep 58
    Feb 23 2026

    Episode 58 - "Sodom & Gomorrah - Its Effect on the LGBTQ Community"

    **content warning - discussion of sexual assault (in Biblical context and in modern context), human sexuality is discussed**

    Episode hosts Allison and Darice are joined by Dr. Dan McClellan (aka @maklelan with over a million followers on Tik Tok, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter) PhD in Theology & Religion, Honorary Fellow, Cadbury Centre for the Public Understanding of Religion.

    In this episode of the Lift+Love Podcast, Dan McClellan discusses his experience working in a church office environment while creating TikTok content, noting occasional backlash but also significant support and a deeper understanding of church administration and its institutional priorities. The main focus of this episode is a reinterpretation of Sodom and Gomorrah: Dan argues the core sin is inhospitality to outsiders expressed through threats of sexual violence meant to shame, dominate, and emasculate, not homosexual orientation or consensual same-sex relationships. He compares Genesis 19 with Judges 19, references Ezekiel 16:49’s emphasis on prosperity and neglect of the needy, and challenges common appeals to Jude 7 by explaining the Greek phrase “other flesh” as a boundary violation involving angels rather than same-sex attraction. The hosts explore the Joseph Smith Translation’s narrative adjustments around Lot and his daughters, the harmful rhetorical use of hyperbole that can eclipse the value of life, and the damage caused when the story is weaponized against LGBTQIA+ people, including the persistence of a scripture footnote linking Genesis 19:5 to homosexuality. The discussion extends to how misreadings influence interpretations of Leviticus 18 and 20, emphasizing power hierarchies and noting the Hebrew Bible’s silence on female same-sex relationships. Dan and the host also talk about the church’s gradual openness to non-KJV scripture options and how this challenges KJV supremacy as an identity marker for English-speaking members, and they share an example from Dan’s ward where his Gospel Doctrine teaching briefly created a safer space. The episode closes with Dan describing his LGBTQIA+ advocacy, shaped by lifelong relationships and Matthew Shepard’s 1998 murder, framing his motivation as standing up to bullying and calling faith communities to prioritize mercy, hospitality, and the second commandment to love one’s neighbor. 00:00 Dan’s TikTok + Working in the Church Office Building 03:35 What Was Sodom’s Sin? Inhospitality, Not Orientation 05:56 Ezekiel, Jude, and “Other Flesh”: Clearing Up the Prooftexts 08:19 JST Changes, Lot’s Daughters, and the Problem of ‘Hero’ Narratives 13:19 Hospitality Then vs. Now: Nomads, Cities, and a Better Modern Lesson 15:27 ‘Who Are the Men of Sodom Today?’ Power, Shame, and Sexual Violence 17:51 How Misreading Sodom Warps Leviticus—and LDS Classroom Culture 20:12 Why the Footnotes Don’t Change (and the Bible Dictionary Problem) 22:40 Mercy Over Judgment: Jesus, the Good Samaritan, and James 2 27:03 Scripture Translation Plurality: Cracks in KJV Supremacy 30:31 A Gospel Doctrine Detour: Creating a Safer Space in the Ward 33:06 Dan’s LGBTQ+ Advocacy: ‘I Don’t Like Bullies’ 37:41 Closing: Refocusing on Welcoming the Stranger

    Find more resources and support for LGBTQ+ Latter-day Saints and their family, friends, allies, and leaders at www.liftandlove.org
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    38 m
  • Disordered Eating in the LGBTQ Population - Episode 57

    Disordered Eating in the LGBTQ Population - Episode 57
    Feb 17 2026
    Episode 57 - Disordered Eating in the LGBTQ Population **content warning - eating disorders and eating disorder symptoms/practices, self-harm (including cutting), suicide, suicide-ideation, negative body image** Episode hosts Allison and Darice are joined by Carey Baldwin (RDN, CIEC), who shares her personal eating disorder recovery story and how it led her to specialize in outpatient eating disorder care in Denver, serving many LGBTQ clients. The conversation explains that eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening mental illnesses with a high mortality rate, outlines common diagnoses (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, and mixed presentations), and discusses why rates are especially high in LGBTQ populations. Carey cites research indicating up to 54% of LGBTQ youth report a diagnosis or suspected symptoms, nearly 9 in 10 report body dissatisfaction, and gay men—about 5% of the total population—make up roughly 45% of all men diagnosed with eating disorders; she also notes particularly high risk among non-binary and trans male youth due to dysphoria and body dissatisfaction. The hosts and Carey describe contributing factors such as stigma, discrimination, bullying, internalized shame, lack of family acceptance, and using food control as a coping mechanism, as well as the impact of diet culture and social media. They review signs parents can look for (preoccupation with weight/calories, tracking apps, eliminating food groups like carbs or sugar, overexercising, mood changes, and food avoidance) and emphasize that eating disorders do not always present in underweight bodies, noting only 6% diagnosed are medically underweight. The episode also addresses elevated risks of suicidal ideation and non-suicidal self-injury (including cutting), stating that LGBTQ youth with eating disorder history have attempted suicide rates four to six times higher than those with eating disorders alone, and explaining how malnourishment affects brain function, anxiety, depression, and isolation. Protective factors highlighted include affirming and supportive adults and family, connection at school and with peers, modeling self-compassion, proactive selection of affirming and trained providers, and seeking specialized eating-disorder treatment (therapist, dietitian, medical checkups and lab work). Carey shares an example of a parent advocating for birth control to suppress periods to reduce distress in a trans male youth, and the hosts discuss avoiding shame, approaching concerns with curiosity, and giving parents grace when symptoms are hidden. 00:00 Reuniting & Introducing Carey Baldwin (Why This Topic Matters) 01:22 Carey’s Story: From Personal ED Recovery to Dietitian Work 03:50 What Eating Disorders Are (and How Serious They Can Be) 04:57 Why EDs Hit LGBTQ Youth Hard: Stats, Body Dissatisfaction & Stress 08:50 Red Flags Parents Can Spot: Diet Culture, Restriction & Over-Exercise 11:44 Diet Culture Everywhere: Trends, Movies, Social Media & Generational Shifts 14:34 COVID Surge, Shame, and the High-Risk Link to Self-Harm/Suicidality 17:17 Starvation Brain: Anxiety, Depression, and Feeling Overwhelmed 17:52 When Restriction Drags On: The Body Under Chronic Stress 18:28 Self-Harm & Eating Disorders: Why Cutting Can Become a Coping Tool 19:27 Stop Calling It ‘Attention Seeking’: What Parents Should Watch For 21:18 Protective Factors: Support, Connection, Self-Compassion, Affirming Care 22:52 How to Intervene: Get Curious, Seek Trained ED Help, Medical Checks 25:34 Affirm Now, Learn as You Go: The Risk of Delaying Support 26:45 Proactive Healthcare Advocacy + A Puberty Distress Case Example 30:29 Parent Guilt & Hidden Struggles: Eating Disorders Don’t Always Look ‘Underweight’ 33:29 Final Takeaways: Awareness in LGBTQ Families & Why This Conversation Matters Carey Baldwin is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist providing nutrition therapy at an outpatient eating disorder clinic in Denver, Colorado. Carey sees a diverse clientele with many who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Carey volunteers with Lift+Love as the Support Group Coordinator and also co-lCarey Baldwin is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist providing nutrition therapy at an outpatient eating disorder clinic in Denver, Colorado. Carey sees a diverse clientele with many who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Carey volunteers with Lift+Love as the Support Group Coordinator and also co-leads an organization in Colorado called Rainbow COnnection. Carey and her husband, Scott, are the parents of 5 adult children. In her free time Carey enjoys time in the mountains, reading, playing tennis and quilting.eads an organization in Colorado called Rainbow COnnection. Carey and her husband, Scott, are the parents of 5 adult children. In her free time Carey enjoys time in the mountains, reading, playing tennis and quilting. You can contact Carey Baldwin at careyannb@gmail.com Find more resources and ...
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  • Sanctuary - A Filmmaker's Journey and Conversation - Episode 56

    Sanctuary - A Filmmaker's Journey and Conversation - Episode 56
    Feb 10 2026

    Episode 56- "Sanctuary: A Filmmaker’s Journey and Conversation" with guest Autumn McAlpin

    Join hosts Allison Dayton, filmmaker Autumn McAlpin, and archival producer Darice Auston for an in-depth conversation about the documentary film "Sanctuary." This powerful film explores what happens when traditional religious spaces fail to provide safety for LGBTQ individuals, and how communities are reimagining sacred spaces to be truly inclusive.

    Autumn shares the origin story of the film—from meeting an architect who builds physical sanctuaries at Pride festivals out of recycled materials, to weaving together stories of affirming pastors, liturgists, and queer individuals seeking belonging. The documentary features scholars, faith leaders, and personal narratives that demonstrate what's possible when we intentionally create safe spaces for all people.

    The conversation covers:

    • The making of the film and its powerful message about authenticity and belonging
    • Audience reactions from screenings across the country
    • The importance of confronting uncomfortable truths about religious harm
    • How sanctuary can be found in people, not just places
    • The film's dedication to lives lost, including Preston Dayton and Levi Martin

    Whether you're navigating faith and LGBTQ identity, supporting loved ones, or seeking to create more inclusive communities, this episode offers hope, practical insights, and a vision for what sanctuary truly means.

    Learn more and request screenings at sanctuarydoc.com

    Watch the official trailer for the Sanctuary film and find information and updates here: https://sanctuarydoc.com/

    Find Spencer LaJoye's song "Plowshare Prayer" on Spotify here or watch a live performance here

    Read Vienna Boyes' Lift+Love Story here

    Learn more about the resources and support available to LGBTQ+ youth and adults, parents, relatives, friends, allies, and church leaders on the Lift+Love website here: www.liftandlove.org

    Video version of this podcast episode is available on Youtube here
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    24 m
  • But Jesus - Episode 55

    But Jesus - Episode 55
    Feb 3 2026

    Episode 55- "But Jesus"

    Episode Hosts: Allison Dayton (Founder of the Lift+Love organization, original Lift+Love podcast co-host, parent of LGBTQ+ child) and Darice Auston (Lift+Love Director of Getting Stuff Done, Gather Director, Lift+Love Store Manager, parent of a trans child)

    This episode features a deeply moving conversation that episode hosts Allison Dayton and Darice Auston share with special guest storyteller Autumn McAlpin about her book, "But Jesus, A Conversation" a collection of poetic vignettes born from her experience as a mother when her teenage son came out as gay. Autumn shares how the book emerged through late-night prayers, conversations, memories, and moments of grief, love, and faith, and how it became a way to tell her family’s story. The discussion explores the spiritual and emotional impact on parents of LGBTQ+ children and the profound compassion, sensitivity, and gifts these children bring to the world. Woven throughout is a testimony of choosing both faith and family, following an inner spiritual compass, and discovering a deeper, more personal relationship with God grounded in unconditional love, inclusion, and the example of Jesus.

    "At 3a.m. one night during the quiet shade of the pandemic, a 17-year-old boy entered his parents’ bedroom to reveal a truth he’d been navigating alone for years. In his confession, he not only came out as gay, but also conveyed the depths of the mental health struggles he’d been battling as a result of conflicting messaging he’d endured in the religious institution in which he'd been raised. Autumn McAlpin’s haunting literary memoir, But Jesus: A Conversation replays the various conversations that emerge during one family’s coming out story—interchanges with loved ones who lean in and those who pull away, the back-and-forth with various LDS church authorities, and the quiet (and not so quiet) pleas of a mother as she petitions the higher power she believes in—one who offers unconditional love and hope for all. But Jesus: A Conversation takes us on a journey of a family deconstructing with the use of a compass and their conscience, and reconstructing with the salve that will help bind them most of all: love. With stunning cover art by J. Kirk Richards, this book is intended to offer an open shoulder for all families who find themselves at the intersection of the LDS and LGBTQ+ conflict, and for the loved ones trying to understand the complex choices they face."

    You can find Autumn's book "But, Jesus - A Conversation" for sale in the Lift+Love online store here: www.liftandlove.org/books/p/but-jesus-a-conversation

    Learn more about artist J. Kirk Richards here: https://www.jkirkrichards.com/

    Learn more about the resources and support available to LGBTQ+ youth and adults, parents, relatives, friends, allies, and church leaders on the Lift+Love website here: www.liftandlove.org
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    31 m