Parrish The Thought

Ladies and gentlemen and whoever else is listening, welcome back to the show. CONTENT WARNING - The opinions of the host and our guests have not been sanitized or scientifically tested so please consume at your own risk. Forty percent. That's roughly how many once-active Latter-day Saints have quietly slipped out the back of the chapel over the past quarter century according to one of the most comprehensive studies ever conducted on Latter-day Saint disaffiliation, which surveyed more than 20,000 current and former members. It's the kind of statistic that turns Sunday dinners into minefields and makes "how's the family" a loaded question. A few days after his son entered MTC (Missionary Training Center), he'd gotten an unusually timed email from him. Before reading past the first paragraph, he knew that his son was coming home and that the church he'd raised him in was coming home with him. That's the moment that cracked open everything for he and his family. My guest is Jeff Strong, a former LDS (Mormon) bishop, mission president, BYU professor, and a man who spent thousands of hours turning his own family's "tectonic plate shift" into one of the most data-driven looks we have at why faithful Latter-day Saints walk away from the Church, in his book "Torn." He's not here to hand you a five-step plan to bring anyone back into the fold. In fact, the plan itself might be the problem. Jeff makes the case that what's missing in a lot of these conversations isn't more certainty or better answers, it's curiosity. Somewhere along the way we traded asking questions for managing outcomes, and a perfectly manicured lawn of matching blades of grass, he says, was never the goal. The mess is. So stick around, because by the end of this one, you may walk away wanting to make curiosity great again. CONTACT JEFFInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/tornbyjeffstrong/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jeff.strong.522678 BOOKS, WEBSITES AND RESOURCESWebsite - https://www.tornbyjeffstrong.com/ . . #TornBook #JeffStrong #FaithJourney #LeavingTheChurch #LDSFaith #CuriosityOverCertainty #FaithAndFamily #ParrishTheThoughtPodcast #MakeCuriosityGreatAgain #ChurchAndCulture #Mormons #ExMormons

Ladies and gentlemen and whoever else is listening — welcome back to the show. My guest today is Katie Coe, Ag Science teacher at Princeton High School in Princeton, California, and, as some affectionately call her, one of the leaders of America’s food cults. We dig into her roots growing up in the cattle ranching and farming world of Shasta County, CA, and explore her passion for teaching the next generation about an industry that is — quite literally — life-giving for all of us. CONTACT KATIEEmail - kcoe@pjusd.orgInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/taters_33/REFERENCESIowa Dairy Farmer - https://www.instagram.com/iowadairyfarmer/Utah FFA - https://www.instagram.com/utahffa/California FFA - https://www.instagram.com/californiaffa/National FFA - https://www.ffa.org/Princeton High School - https://www.facebook.com/pjusdFall River High School - https://www.instagram.com/fallriverjrsrhighschool/Etna High School - https://www.svusd.us/etna-high-school/California Farm Bureau - https://www.cfbf.com/#FFA #CaliforniaFFA #UtahFFA #FutureFarmersOfAmerica #IowaDairyFarmer #FoodProductionForAmerica #FoodCults #CaliforniaFarmers #CaliforniaFarmBureau

Ladies and gentlemen and whoever else is listening. Welcome back to the show. In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with Laurie Lee Hall, author of Dictates of Conscience: The Journey from Mormon High Priest to Transgender Woman, to explore her extraordinary life—a path marked by devotion, courage, and authenticity over 50 years. Once a respected leader and chief temple architect within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Laurie shares what it meant to honor her truth in the face of profound spiritual and social consequence. We also have a special guest on the program. Joining Laurie Lee are a15-year-old transgender boy and his devoted, passionate, and fiercely supportive mother. Together, they offer a rare intergenerational glimpse into the evolving landscape of gender identity, parental advocacy, and the real-life challenges and triumphs of living authentically in today’s world. This is a conversation about faith, identity, and the unbreakable power of love—and what it truly means to follow the dictates of one's own conscience.Note: We regret that our additional guests have chosen to remain anonymous as they don't feel safe in today's political climate. CONTACT Laurie Lee Buy the Book - https://shorturl.at/qXL7eInstagram -https://www.instagram.com/laurieleehall/Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/laurie.lee.hall#TransVoices#FaithAndIdentity#LGBTQStories#TransYouth#ParentingWithPride#LivingAuthentically#DictatesOfConscience#LDSChurch#MormonChurch#Excommunincation#GenderAffirmingCare

My guest today is Valerie Hamaker, a licensed mental health professional and co-host of the popular Latter Day Struggles podcast—a show focused on helping individuals, especially members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, navigate the emotional and spiritual challenges that arise from complex church history and theology. Recently, Valerie and her husband Nathan were summoned to appear before a membership disciplinary council—a process that often results in excommunication. Instead of participating, they chose to resign their membership. The way they’ve been treated by their local leaders—what I’d call a clear attempt at silencing—feels not only confusing and unsettling, but also symptomatic of deeper cracks within the structure and institution of the LDS Church. CONTACT VALERIE Instagram -https://shorturl.at/RSFs6Facebook - https://shorturl.at/QXSXbWebsite - https://valeriehamaker.com/Email - admin@latterdaystruggles.com #TheMormonChurch #MissouriMormons #LDSFaithCrisis #Mormon #LDSChurch #FaithCrisis #TruthCrisis #ExMo #Scrupulocity #Patriarchy #CantUnsee #LatterDayStruggles #DoAllTheThings #FaithTransition #NuancedMormon #FollowTheProphet #AtLastSheSaidIt

Ladies and gentlemen and whomever else is listening. Whether you're a longtime listener or tuning in for the first time, I truly appreciate your support. Your time and attention mean the world to me, and I don’t take it for granted. If this show has added value to your life, please take a moment to like, share, subscribe, and leave a review—it helps more than you know! Today, we’re diving into a conversation that’s both eye-opening and essential: the deeply rooted system of patriarchy. To help us unravel its history and impact, I’m honored to welcome Amy McPhie Allebest—the brilliant mind behind the acclaimed podcast and YouTube series Breaking Down Patriarchy. Through her work, Amy explores the long-standing power imbalances that have shaped societies for millennia. But this isn’t just a history lesson—it’s a call to action. What can we do to challenge these structures and create a more equitable world? Listen in for a fascinating discussion filled with historical insights, practical strategies, and actionable takeaways to spark change in your own life and community. Follow her work today!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bdownpatriarchy/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@breakingdownpatriarchyWebsite - https://breakingdownpatriarchy.com/ #BreakingDownPatriarchy #Feminism #Feminazi #PatriarchalStructures

Welcome back to the show, my beautiful listeners. I’m so excited to share today’s conversation with you. My guest is Phelosha Collaros, the visionary founder of DepolarWise.com, a powerful community platform built with one purpose in mind: to bridge the ever-growing political and ideological divides that threaten to tear us apart—not just here in America, but across the globe. Phelosha’s mission is about making connections, one person at a time, to foster understanding, compassion, and common ground where we so desperately need it. Phelosha's passion for this work comes from a deeply personal place. Her mother, born in Colombia, witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of a polarized society. During the violent period known as La Violencia, her own community turned on each other with such brutal fervor that they were willing to kill Phelosha’s grandfather simply because of his political beliefs. Over the course of nearly a decade, that civil war claimed more than 200,000 lives, leaving deep scars on the Colombian nation. While the example I just shared is extreme—and thank goodness, we’re not there yet—it’s a stark reminder of the dangers when division turns into dehumanization. And make no mistake, we are seeing alarming signs of that same toxic divide here in the U.S. over the past decade or so. If we’re not careful, we could follow that same path. But here’s the thing: we don’t have to. The power is in our hands. To heal, to shift the narrative, and to stop the cycle of hate that we’re trapped in, we need to get uncomfortable. We need to step outside our echo chambers and face the discomfort of truly learning about each other—especially about those who see the world differently than we do. It’s a process, but it’s a process that can begin today. So, I encourage you to listen closely, because this conversation offers hope and practical ways we can be part of the solution. The miracle of unity isn’t as far off as it might seem—it just requires us to take the first step. Let’s dive in. COMMUNICATION, BOOKS and REFERENCES DepolarWise.com - http://depolarwise.com/Email - info@depolarwise.comPhelosha's TED Talk - https://shorturl.at/JgHMaLa Violencia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_ViolenciaBraver Angels - https://braverangels.org/I Never Thought of It That Way -Uncomfy Podcast - https://www.byuradio.org/uncomfy

My guests today are Laney and Bridgette Casey. Last year I interviewed their parents, Matt and Celeste. Over three years ago Matt was diagnosed with an extremely rare illness called Neuroendocrine cancer. It almost took his life and so often so much of the attention, although well deserved, goes to the person suffering. Often times the family can sometimes get overlooked even as they are suffering along side the sick or injured one. This is Matt's story through THEIR eyes. The eyes of the children. Have your tissues handy.Listen to Matt and Celeste's original story here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parrish-the-thought/id1348128086?i=1000636743479 #NeuroendocrineCancer #CancerSucks #FamilyFirst #NetCancer #ZebraStrong #CancerCard #CaseyFamily

I recently had the chance to sit down with my longtime friend, Supermascot Rocky, the iconic face (or should I say fur) of the Denver Nuggets, whom I've known for over 33 years. In a candid and heartwarming interview, Rocky (Kenn Solomon) finally reveals the secrets behind the mask after all these years. We've shared so many memories together, from thrilling courtside antics to behind-the-scenes moments that fans rarely get to see. Hearing him talk about his journey, how he brought joy to fans, and the stories that shaped his larger-than-life persona was nothing short of amazing. The bond we've built over three decades only deepened as he peeled back the layers of the character that has captured the hearts of so many. Especially the ins and outs of raising three young (not so much anymore) boys in the shadow of their cartoon dad and the massive effect it has had on their lives. #DenverNuggets #SuperMascotRocky #Rocky #OriginalJazzBear #JonAbsey #CharlesBarkley #MyThreeSons #DetroitPistonsHooper #JohnElway #DenverBroncos #MascotHallOfFame #CadeSolomon #DrakeSolomon