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In this episode Valerie is the guest on the thought-provoking Inside Out Podcast, one of the first podcasts to interview her following the dramatic events that led up to the Hamakers' decision to resign from the LDS church rather than collude in an excommunication process that they did not endorse as ethical, legitimate, or appropriate.

This episode takes you through Val's early life and path leading to her current work and delves into the challenges she faced with church leadership due to her public mental health work on behalf of thousands of Latter-day Saints through her Latter Day Struggles Platform.

Among other things, Valerie discusses the critical tensions between church policies, doctrines, and personal mental health, while providing insights on how the LDS Church can evolve to better support its members.

**In the next several Monday episodes documenting Valerie's and Nathan's experiences connected to their resignation from the LDS church in March of 2025, Valerie represents the couple as Nathan is currently working out of town and unavailable during traditional recording hours. They apologize as so many of you so deeply benefit from his unique insights and perspectives!

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In this episode Val is a guest on the wonderful In Her Image Podcast to discuss the complex emotional journey of awakening to the divine feminine. They explore common emotional responses to one's realization that s/he has been estranged from half of deity for one's whole life, awakening to the power that many of us give away in allowing others to define who the Divine is, and how this journey almost always leads to the need to redefine one's relationship with the LDS church in ways that are more differentiated, self advocating, and truly connecting with ones' Divine Source.

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In this episode Valerie is interviewed by her good friends and fellow podcasters Susan Hinckley and Cynthia Wynward and the three talk about what it is like to be outspoken women in a 21st Century church that is not so sure what to do with this kind of woman. They are candid in their experiences, struggles, and insecurities as they figure out their own faith journeys somewhat in the public eye while walking with thousands of others through their own complex experiences.

Bottom Line: In a church that has chronically valued women for their ability to stand by in supporting roles, these women are showing this generation of people in and around the LDS church that 'fragile' has a whole new meaning nowadays!

Listen, become empowered, and share this episode!

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Series Title: In-depth Exploration of Patriarchy & its Correlation to Violence & Abuse [Part VIII of X]

Join Val & Nathan as they respectfully lean into specific risk factors associated with formalized patriarchal religious institutions (including the LDS church) & how these vulnerabilities play out in very real ways. They also explore how our children can eventually become safer as their caregivers become educated & reach a critical mass of light & knowledge about the harmful (even if unintended) consequences to many children raised within patriarchal homes & churches.

**Please note, Val & Nathan are not implying that child abuse & violence are *inevitable* when their families and churches are patriarchal. They are simply unpacking all of the heavily researched data pointing to heightened risk factors associated with patriarchy and violence/abuse. Please, let us learn from the ample data & protect our children.

Referenced in this Episode:

Associated Press: Seven years of sex abuse: How Mormon officials let it happen

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Series Title: In-depth Exploration of Patriarchy & its Correlation to Violence & Abuse [Part VIIof X]

In today's episode, Val & Nathan walk through the layered risk factors around spousal violence/abuse that married couples are exposed to when belonging to a formalized institutional patriarchal church. Reinforcement of male authority, inadequately trained clergy offering counseling services, isolation from external oversight/support, and tendencies to protect the male abusers (esp those with leadership callings) are all discussed. They also make recommendations for inviting a safer/healthier marriage theology and climate that will contribute to individual & marital flourishing.

**Please note, Val & Nathan are not implying that abuse & violence are *inevitable* when couples hold a patriarchal worldview or belong to a formalized patriarchal religious institution--they are simply unpacking all of the heavily researched data pointing to heightened risk factors associated with patriarchy and violence/abuse.

Referenced in this Episode:

Associated Press - Seven years of sex abuse: How Mormon officials let it happen

Bell Hooks - The Will to Change; Men, Masculinity and Love

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Series Title: In-depth Exploration of Patriarchy & its Correlation to Violence & Abuse [Part V of X]

In this episode Val & Nathan walk through a series of other very common communities where men-on-men violence is normalized--culminating in a discussion that shows clearly that it is not a coincidence that patriarchal structures enforce strict rules on both women & LGBTQ+ people for the same underlying reason.

They will walk you through the "rules" and consequences imposed on sexual/gender non-conforming people and how deeply embedded systemic patriarchies use God to justify all kinds of violence & abuse directed at those not willing to acknowledge this man-made system of domination.

Referenced in This Episode:

Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion - Gregory Boyle

Podcast: Breaking Down Patriarchy- Episode 37: How to be an Anti-Patriarchist with Levi Murray

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Series Title: In-depth Exploration of Patriarchy & its Correlation to Violence & Abuse [Part III of X]

In this jaw-dropping episode (at least it was jaw-dropping for Val & Nath to prepare and produce) Val & Nathan talk about the "Female Fear Factory" which is a phrase intended to communicate the implicit rules that girls and women worldwide are taught to follow in order to be safe in this world where patriarchy is treated as a "given" that must be managed and obeyed.

If you care about the spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing of yourself, your loved ones (of all genders) and your community at large--this series is a crucial masterclass.

Referenced in this Episode:

The Female Fear Factory; Unravelling Patriarchy's Cultures of Violence - Pumla Dineo Gqola

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Series Title: In-depth Exploration of Patriarchy and its Correlation to Violence & Abuse [Part I of X]

In this opening episode of this incredibly important series, Val & Nathan offer an overview of what is to come in the episodes that follow. This series has been a labor of love for this couple who care deeply about their Latter-day Saint and surrounding loved ones and want to spread the word far and wide that all patriarchy is harmful but we live in day and age where institutional patriarchy MUST be lovingly challenged for the welfare of every single human being.

Patriarchy is tightly correlated to actual violence and abuse. If nothing else convinces you that reform is needed...maybe this will give you pause.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcast: Breaking Down Patriarchy- Episode 37: How to be an Anti-Patriarchist with Levi Murray

Podcast: The Foyer- Season 3 Episode 3 Women's Equality: It Absolutely Matters

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Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups

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Visit our Website