In this intimate follow-up episode, journalist Lauren continues her powerful story—this time focusing on her path from reporter to advocate, wife, and co-founder of Hidden True Crime. Lauren shares the deeply personal journey that brought her to John Matthias, their relationship, marriage, and parenting as a mixed-faith couple—all while navigating the high-stakes world of reporting on religious extremism and the Lori Vallow Daybell case.

She reflects on pivotal moments in Mormonism, including the excommunication of progressive voices, the Church’s stance on same-sex marriage, and the Ordain Women movement. As her career unfolds, Lauren breaks major stories from inside Mormon and FLDS communities, reporting from Hildale, Utah, and uncovering secrets in St. George.

Her life is upended again by the Daybell case, which becomes the catalyst for launching Hidden True Crime. Balancing her professional calling with profound personal loss—her brother’s accident and coma—Lauren makes the gut-wrenching decision to attend Lori Vallow Daybell’s trial anyway.

This episode is a moving reflection on belief, justice, trauma, love, and the power of storytelling to make sense of chaos.

From breaking the Daybell story to building a platform

A deeply personal account of faith, loss, and love

Includes exclusive insight into Chad Daybell’s patriarchal blessing and courtroom revelations

___________________

Show Notes

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In this powerful and emotional episode, journalist Lauren tells her Mormon story publicly for the first time. Known for covering others’ experiences—including the high-profile Lori Vallow Daybell trial—Lauren now opens up about her own journey through faith, trauma, resilience, and healing.

She shares her upbringing in the LDS Church, the influence of her legally blind father, and her early fears around death that led to a fascination with true crime. Lauren details her mission to Ohio, her shock upon learning about polygamy, and her love for investigative storytelling.

The story takes deeply personal turns as she opens up about being diagnosed with MS, her father’s arrest and trial, her own struggles with mental health, sexual assault, marriage trauma, and the challenges of being a Mormon woman in journalism.

From painful experiences to moments of empowerment in her career and community, Lauren’s account is raw, inspiring, and unflinchingly honest.

Hear about her memoir

Stay for the vulnerable reflections

Support Lauren’s journey by watching to the end

___________________

Show Notes

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PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

In this episode, we dive into Chapter seven of Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet by John G. Turner. We explore early public criticism of Joseph Smith by figures like Abner Cole, the satirical Book of Pukei, and Luman Walters' possible influence. We also examine Joseph’s efforts to sell the copyright of the Book of Mormon in Canada, what that reveals about his intentions, and the revelation that supposedly authorized it.

We discuss how Joseph’s financial motives, revelations, and treatment of Martin Harris raise important questions, and consider the book's early lack of demand—even as Joseph continued to pivot and adapt. From legal troubles and claims of treasure seeking, to his revisions of the Bible and the rise of anti-Masonry, this episode looks at how Joseph’s evolving theology and personal ambitions shaped early Mormonism.

We also tackle difficult questions around gender and divine authority: Why were no women, including Emma Smith, called as witnesses to the golden plates? What does Emma's role—and her sacrifices—say about the story Joseph told?

This is a wide-ranging and thought-provoking installment that challenges the traditional narrative while offering rich historical context.

**Topics Include:**

- Abner Cole’s criticisms & Book of Pukei

- Attempt to sell the Book of Mormon copyright in Canada

- Revelations and motives: divine or self-serving?

- Joseph’s treatment of Emma & women’s roles

- Legal issues & treasure seeking

- Bible revisions, anti-Masonry, and theology

- Emma’s loyalty and legacy

___________________

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In this raw and emotional deep-dive, Laurel shares her powerful story of growing up in an extremely orthodox Mormon household as the youngest of eight children. From uncovering her Danish-Mormon ancestry to dealing with abuse, purity culture, and her father's secret polygamist "revelation" that led to his excommunication, Laurel reflects on how early trauma, sexual repression, and church doctrine shaped her identity.She opens up about her mission to Poland, her battle with anxiety, shame, and identity within the church, and how the toxic dynamics of Mormon Young Single Adult (YSA) culture pushed her to the edge. Ultimately, Laurel's journey of deconstruction—triggered by political events, therapy, and research into church history—leads her to reclaim her sexuality, leave the church, and finally begin to heal.Topics include: abuse, purity culture, sexual trauma, polygamy, depression, and suicidal ideation. Viewer discretion advised.___________________

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In Part 6 of our Joseph Smith podcast series, we dive deep into Chapter 6: "A Choice Seer." This episode explores the controversies surrounding the Book of Mormon—its origins, witnesses, and textual issues. We examine the arguments for and against its authenticity, its biblical parallels, and Joseph Smith’s role as translator vs. author.Topics include:-Were the witnesses in on a scam?-Historicity of the Book of Mormon-Anachronisms and biblical borrowings-Criticism from early figures like Alexander Campbell-Literary structures like chiasmus-Theology, archeology, and universalism-Is the Book of Mormon scripture?A thoughtful, critical, and respectful look at how scholars and believers wrestle with faith, history, and evidence.___________________

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In this powerful and emotional interview, voice actor Cam Clarke (known for iconic roles in animation and video games) shares his deeply personal journey growing up in a famous Mormon-Hollywood family. From his early years navigating faith, family expectations, and same-sex attraction, to starring in Saturday’s Warrior and undergoing electroshock therapy at BYU, Cam opens up about the emotional toll of trying to reconcile his identity with his religion.

He discusses coming out, surviving the AIDS crisis, finding healing through art, and ultimately resigning from the LDS Church. Cam’s story is raw, heartfelt, and inspiring—a testament to resilience, authenticity, and the power of self-love.

Topics include:

• Growing up Mormon in a showbiz family

• Struggles with sexuality and faith

• Saturday’s Warrior and mission life

• Conversion therapy and coming out

• Voice acting career and ComicCon life

• Reflections on love, loss, and legacy

Show Notes

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In this episode, we dive deep into the attacks on the CES Letter and its author, Jeremy Runnells, unpacking why apologetic responses—no matter how weak—are often accepted by believing members. This is the first in a multi-part series analyzing the LDS Discussions CES Letter project.We tackle critical questions about the Book of Mormon, including:-Why does it contain errors from the 1769 King James Bible?-What about the italicized words from the KJV showing up in the text?-Why doesn’t the Book of Mormon match Joseph Smith’s own translation of the Bible?-What does DNA evidence say about the Book of Mormon narrative?-And how do apologists handle the serious anachronisms in the text?Along the way, we explore FAIR Mormon’s increasingly irrelevant defenses, the hidden Gospel Topics Essays, and shifting church narratives.This is an essential deep-dive for anyone curious about Mormonism’s truth claims, historical issues, and the apologetics surrounding them.Join the conversation and subscribe for future episodes in this CES Letter series.

Join us today as we rebroadcast the story of the man behind the famous CES Letter: Jeremy Runnells.In February 2012, Jeremy Runnels experienced a crisis of faith, which subsequently led to a faith transition in the summer of 2012. In the spring of 2013, Jeremy was approached and asked by a Church Education System (CES) Director to share his concerns and questions about the LDS Church’s origins, history, and current practices. In response, Jeremy wrote what later became publicly known as Letter to a CES Director.Letter to a CES Director very quickly went viral on the internet. The CES Director responded that he read the “very well written” letter and that he would provide Jeremy with a response. No response ever came.From then on, hundreds of Mormons have stumbled across the CES Letter and it has caused them to question their faith. Other believing sites have attacked Jeremy Runnells over the years, saying that he was insincere or that he never believed the church was true. His story clears up all doubt that he was a true-believing Mormon.___________________

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