The Faith Transition Podcast

In this overdue episode, I have a heartfelt conversation with Dani Enkey. She shares her life journey starting as a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints, then she discovers through yoga, meditation, and her personal life experiences that her inner world is much more expansive than what she was taught to believe. She finds that she doesn't need an external medium to get in touch with her core self and the divine, and she now chooses to move through life from that inner standpoint. 

Dani has a fun and endearing personality, she has a gift for sharing and connecting particularly with women who may struggle to stay in touch with their core self while in the midst of parenting duties, etc.

I hope you enjoy this authentic conversation as much as I did!

You can get in touch with Dani Enkey and find more info about her  and her talented husband & artist Phillip Enkey here:

In this episode, I have a great conversation with Drew Hansen and Amanda Suarez  who created the platform and movement Upflift Kids.

Amanda has spent 20 years experiencing our education system from every angle. In addition to completing an B.A. in Elementary Education and an M.A. in School Psychology, Amanda has volunteered in many capacities inside schools - She’s convinced that what kids need most are relationships filled with presence and love, where they can safely learn - She believes kids are capable of being with whatever life brings, both the beauty and the pain - she is on a mission to help children, including her own four kids, stay connected to their inner aliveness so that they can show up in the world as the most honest, undiluted version of themselves.

Drew was initially drawn to business for its potential to positively impact the world. In his career, he built and sold three companies, consulted several in the Fortune 50, and published over a hundred articles in Forbes on topics such as creativity, innovation, strategy, leadership, team building, and economic system change. But despite the success, these experiences caused him to question whether business is indeed a force for good. Uplift represents the change he wishes to see in the world. He believes in the power of people to harness their collective wisdom to manifest a more sacred economy today, not tomorrow.

You can find out more about Uplift Kids and connect with Drew Hansen and Amanda Suarez here:

In this episode, I have a candid conversation with Advanced Relationship Coach Bryce Bauer, husband of Jenny Morrow who I had on the previous podcast episode.

This episode is more geared toward single men, coach Bryce will tell us more about how single men looking to have a more meaningful relationship can start - if they feel a bit lost - how they can meet the right person, and how to do the work on themselves. 

Coach Bryce self-development first began when he was admitted into a drug rehab facility, 13 years ago.  He had destroyed every relationship in his life and finally realized that he was the one who needed to change.  This experience opened up new doors for him and he spent 6 years working as a wilderness therapy guide and residential counselor.

Although things looked good on the outside, he still struggled with intimate relationships.  He was mostly emotionally unavailable, naïve, avoidant, and quick to blame.

After another bad breakup, he decided to move to Hawaii and start over.  That trip turned into a 2-year adventure as he traveled around the world.  When he returned to the US, he was extremely motivated to find a partner and create a long-lasting and loving relationship.

He then met Jenny Morrow, they have been married a few years - she introduced him to The Relationship School and so his relationship coach journey began.

Today, Bryce does private coaching as well as group coaching for men who want to develop an advanced relationship with their partner.

To find out more about Bryce Bauer:

In this episode, I have a very open and vulnerable conversation with Advanced Relationship therapist Jenny Morrow who has a decade and a half of experience working with thousands of couples and individuals. She helps her clients have more fulfilling and enduring advanced relationships.

Jenny Morrow is a former member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who, among millions of others, has found that she could better thrive as herself without prescribed ways to be and believe. She is a successful Advanced Relationship therapist who lives what she preaches. Bryce Bauer, Jenny's husband, shares her values and is a business partner in coaching Advanced Relationship as well.

In this episode, Jenny digs deeper into my relationship issues as a 3-year divorced, back on the dating scene, single working mother with the hope to find a partner who shares the same values. 

Jenny shows me how to embrace my anxious attachment romantic relationship style (which is a struggle for me), how to be clear on what I want and need in order to be secure in presenting these personal values to potential future partners. Jenny also explains what an advanced relationship looks like and how we can work on achieving this goal.

I hope you are able to pick up some of the great gems for yourself in this conversation. I also hope that you will explore all the valuable material The Advanced Relationship Academy website offers to anyone interested.

If you enjoy this episode or any previous episodes, let me know by leaving a review on iTunes, Spotify, etc., and by sharing with people around you who can benefit from these heartfelt conversations.

To get in touch and find out more about Jenny Morrow, Bryce Bauer, and their work:

In this episode of The Faith Transition Podcast, I have an open and honest conversation with Mother, Wife, Singer, Actor, Speaker, Performer Andrea Forsythe, a native of Utah who now lives in Colorado with her family. I discovered Andrea Forsythe on social media, I was intrigued because she is an active member of the LDS Church who also advocates for the LGBTQ+ community. Andrea shares her journey of embracing her authentic self, of being in the business of humans who want to be seen and loved. She shares how she came to find out that the darkness in all of us can help us grow our light when we choose to face our demons - She has a lot of empathy for flawed leaders and institutions while at the same time recognizing and pointing out their blindsides. I wanted to know how she manages to remain in the Church while at the same time recognizing the immense hurt that the same church has caused many people and families... I hope you enjoy this important discussion as much as we did! 

Click on the link below to get in touch with Andrea Forsythe: 

This overdue follow up episode with Spencer Nugent is a gem, we go deeper into his experience living as a double minority - a black man and non-Mormon man in a small town in Utah. Spencer tells us how he navigates through it all, how he coped with the events and racial tensions of the past few months and what he hopes to see in the future. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did speaking with Spencer Nugent. 

Where can you connect with Spencer Nugent:

For a full account of Spencer Nugent Growing up in the Mormon Church and Faith Transition Story go to:

In this episode and the one that will follow, I have a real talk conversation with extremely talented Industrial Designer Spencer Nugent. We talk about his career as a Black Industrial Designer. Spencer sees himself, above all, as a Creative and an Instructor who enjoys sharing his skills and process with tens of thousands of avid designers ready to learn. His online platforms have drawn over a hundred thousand followers from all over the world. 

In the following episodes, Spencer opens up and shares very personal experiences to help the listeners understand what he had to overcome in order to fully embrace his Blackness after leaving a Church that believes that God favors the "White, Fair and Delightsome"  in its theology - (see Book of Mormon - 2 Nephi 5:21). He shares with us how he overcame this belief he had internalized since he was a child. 

Spencer was born and raised in Jamaica and moved to the US as a teen. He currently lives in a community in Utah where he is a double minority being black and non-Mormon. His two young boys are his pride and joy. Spencer also appreciates having close family members living nearby.

I hope that this raw, open, and honest discussion will give new perspectives to the many who may not understand such a unique life experience. I also hope that many hearts and minds will be open to new perspectives when it comes to the lived experience of a Black man in America. 

For a full account of Spencer Nugent Growing up in the Mormon Church and Faith Transition Story go to:

In this episode of The Faith Transition Podcast I have a very insightful discussion with Dr. Scott D. Miller.

Dr. Miller is the founder of the International Center for Clinical Excellence, an international consortium of clinicians, researchers, and educators dedicated to promoting excellence in behavioral health services. Dr. Miller conducts workshops and training in the United States and abroad, helping hundreds of agencies and organizations, both public and private, to achieve superior results.

Dr. Miller is the author of numerous psychotherapy books and articles  - you can find them all on his website along with lots of resourceful information.

In this episode of The Faith Transition Podcast, I have a very enlightening conversation with Dr. Cyndi Matthews. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S), a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) working with individuals, couples, and families. Dr. Cyndi Matthews graduated with a Ph.D. and Masters in Counseling from Texas A&M University-Commerce. She has over 20 years of clinical experience.  She utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Adlerian therapy. She is a person-centered therapist who focuses on the values of empathy, genuineness, and non-judgment. She is also a Supervisor helping LPC-interns working towards their license.

Her private practice specializes in Religious Abuse & Cult Recovery, Depression/Anxiety/Stress, LGBTQ+ Issues/Gender Identity, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Sexual, Emotional, & and Physical Abuse, Anger Management, Domestic Violence, Sex Therapy, Premarital Counseling, Communication Skills, Crisis Management, and Relationship Effectiveness.

Along with CBT and Aldertian therapy, she is also trained in Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, Couples' Gottman and Couples Imago therapy, Sandtray therapy, and Psychodrama. 

In this episode, we have an open and honest conversation about her upbringing in the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints, why she left a decade ago, what motivated her to focus her research on spiritual abuse and survivors of cults and the challenges they face as they leave the cult environment. 

Along with others, Dr. Cyndi Matthews is carving a path for therapists to better serve survivors of spiritual abuse as well as informing clergy members, through dialogue, about the reality and damages of spiritual abuse.

Dr. Cyndi Matthews expands on the 4 main characteristics of Spiritual Abuse:

1. Abuse of power

2. Conditionality - Everything is conditional in a cult environment

3. Suppression of Expression - Denial of questions, wants and needs

4. Spiritual Injury causing self-doubt

For more info about Dr Cyndi Matthews and her work:

In this episode of The Faith Transition Podcast I have an uncut heartfelt conversation with Gail Nicolaysen-Shurtleff. She is an accomplished therapist from California who now lives in The Netherlands and practices therapy remotely. Gail got her Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology at John F. Kennedy University.

Together we discuss her journey as a former member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints and the reasons why she left despite her Mormon pioneer heritage and acquaintance with apostles and prophets from earlier years.

We discuss her experience living in the margins as she was never fully accepted in the different LDS circles where she was because of her disabilities but how she found full acceptance in other circles.

We discuss the loss of her husband John to suicide and how she coped and processed his death. We talk about death, grief and some helpful ways to be there for those we know going through these challenges.

I hope you enjoy this episode. Feel free to share your thoughts, comments, questions in any of the platforms where the podcast runs. 

Places where you can learn more about Gail Nicolaysen-Shurtleff and connect: 

Website: Beyond Grief and Loss Therapy

Thank you for tuning in! In this episode Tammy shares her two major relationship stories: First a marriage which happened a mere 6 months after meeting as college students, a divorce, then a new relationship with a serial cheater which quickly turned abusive . Tammy bravely decided to share her story with the hope that some who may be in similar situations could know that they are not alone showing that it is possible to break from the cycle of abusive relationships. Tammy helps the listener understand how a mentally stable person manages to get trapped into an abusive relationship. I hope that you enjoy this discussion and share it with anyone who could benefit from it.

National Domestic Abuse Hotline:

In this episode of The Faith Transition Podcast, I dig a little deeper into Marlena's experience being born and raised in Utah as an African-American woman. We talk about her experience at BYU, the reaction around her when she left the Church. We discuss this year's first lift of the priesthood ban celebration and what transpired from it, the apology hoax that came at the same time, the pressure to conformity which leads to cognitive dissonance, what is her spiritual foundation today and more. 

You may occasionally hear her babies in the background because that is real life :). I'm grateful that Marlena was willing to open up and share a little more after her Mormon Stories. If you want more details about her upbringing and faith crisis you can listen to her Mormon Stories here: 

In this episode I interview my friend Dusty, a published  herpetologist who grew up in the Mormon Church, graduated from BYU and is currently completing his Phd in the Dallas area. Dusty shares some of the issues he had with the LDS doctrine starting in his science classes at BYU. We discuss a study of thousands of people across different faith traditions showing Mormons coming on top for feelings of guilt related to sexuality. An avid student of Carl Sagan, Dusty shares how he transitioned from Mormonism  to his current facts and science based new set of beliefs with an open door for the unknown. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did having this discussion. Please leave your comments, questions, suggestions below or in any of The Faith Transition Podcast platforms.

Books Mentioned:

In this episode I have a candid conversation with my friend Shar who lives in Texas  and my friend Theresa who lives in New Jersey. We talk about their belief system and how they came to define themselves as atheist. Shar tells us how she came to a cross road as she stood by her father in his last hours before passing.  Theresa explains how in her mixed faith household she and her spouse come together to raise their children. They will share their journey of exploring different belief systems but ultimately landing on the same fact based scientific grounds. 

I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed having that discussion with them.

Please leave your comments below or in any of The Faith Transition Podcast's platforms:

I’m very excited to share with you this discussion with my friend Molly who opens up and shares her very personal experience growing up Mormon, going to BYU, marrying after 12 weeks of meeting her ex-husband. We discuss the lack of sex education, some women’s issues, her painful divorce. We also discuss mental illness, dealing with a cheating spouse, rebuilding after a divorce and a faith crisis. It's a heartfelt discussion that validates many who are experiencing or have experienced similar situations.  Please leave your comments below or on facebook, Instagram or The Faith Transition Podcast website. Thank you for listening!

Connect Here:

In this 2nd episode of The Faith Transition Podcast Julienna shares some definitions, quotes from books that helped her during her faith transition as well as tools she uses to quiet her mind to come back to a more peaceful state. She talks about where she stands in her spirituality and what led her there. Enjoy and leave some feedback!

Connect with Julienna Viegas:

Web: www.thefaithtransitionpodcast.com

IG: @thefaithtransitionpod