Episodes

This week on the Mormon Newscast, we start with Tim Ballard, who’s now claiming the LDS Church has its own “deep state.” We break down what he actually said, why he’s saying it now, and how this keeps pushing the Church into a political storm it does not want. Next, we look at a disturbing case: another Latter-day Saint with a history of sexual abuse has been called to a high-level leadership position. Members are asking how this keeps happening. We also cover a viral TikTok calling out the Chur...

Britt Hartley from No Nonsense Spirituality and Bill Reel from the Almost Awakened Podcast are teaming up again for a brand-new series built around honest, wide-open conversations on spirituality, atheism, psychology, consciousness, and whatever else grabs our curiosity in the moment. In this first episode, we jump from one fascinating question to the next. What is the nature of reality? Are we living in a simulation? What does an AI revolution mean for human meaning and purpose? And would you p...

Purity culture didn’t begin with religion, it began with control. In this episode, Teresa and Bill explore how ancient systems of ownership and inheritance evolved into moral laws that still shape our relationship to the body, desire, and worth today. Even after leaving high-control faiths, the conditioning remains embodied, showing up as shame, numbness, fear of pleasure, self-policing, and confusion about intimacy. From a trauma-informed and nervous-system lens, Teresa unpacks how sexual shame...

In this episode of Almost Awakened, we dig into the emotional weapon that too many of us have been shaped by—shame. Bill and Teresa break down how unhealthy systems—religious, familial, and relational—use shame to keep people small, obedient, and disconnected from their true selves. We explore the difference between guilt and shame, unpack the mechanics of control, and call out the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways shame is embedded in Mormonism and beyond. Topics covered: How shame hijacks our se...

I have been putting off telling this story for all nine years I have been podcasting. Beyond that, I have never shared this story publicly, and privately only with a handful of close friends. This occurrence happened in 1979, when I was nineteen years old. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before or since. It stands as a singularity in my lifetime. This is the story of how I met Satan. And yes, I instantly regretted it. So turn out the lights, gather close to whatever device you’re watch...

This week on Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon sit down with researcher Kolby Reddish for a fascinating deep dive into the Dead Sea Scrolls and what they reveal about the Book of Mormon’s ancient claims. Kolby walks us through the history of the Scrolls, what they actually contain, and how they’ve transformed modern biblical scholarship. Then the conversation turns to the big question: If these are the most important ancient Hebrew and Aramaic writings ever discovered, certainly th...

This week on The Mormon Newscast, we kick things off with the story everyone’s talking about—Latter-day Saint women lining up in droves to snag the Church’s new sleeveless garments. For decades, complaints about the old design have simmered quietly, but this release sparked a full-blown “garment gold rush.” We’ll unpack what this says about control, modesty culture, and the changing face of Mormon womanhood. Also in the headlines: Latter-day Saints are having fewer children and Church officials ...

The question of whether Mormons should be called “Christian” is all the rage. But it was also a much-debated question back in the 1980s when RFM was at the height of his Mormon Apologetic career. Radio Free Mormon brings his years of experience and perspective to this question and gives the final and authoritative answer to whether Mormons are Christian. Case closed! The post Are Mormons Christian? RFM: 426 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Everyone knows Martin Harris as one of the Three Witnesses. But few know how strange, conflicted, and revealing his story really is. Was he a man of unwavering faith in the Truth… or a man chasing every new revelation that came along? In this episode of Mormonism Live, we dig into the real Martin Harris; the devout farmer who financed the Book of Mormon, saw angels (and maybe more), then spent decades bouncing between movements, prophets, and visions. From his 1838 claim that he only saw the pla...

Tonight on The Mormon Newscast, we’re diving into a lineup that has the Mormon world buzzing. The LDS Church quietly rolled out changes to scripture headings and introductions, raising questions about what’s driving these edits and why transparency still feels optional. We’ll also unpack new data suggesting a steady decline in the percentage of Latter-day Saints paying full tithing, a shift with big implications for church finances and faith culture. Meanwhile, the Church just announced 55 new ...

Is it really possible that the LDS Church is removing the racist passages from the Book of Mormon? Not from the English version, but instead from the versions prepared for distribution in developing nations such as in Africa? Join RFM as he reviews the evidence and make up your own mind! The post Removing Racist Scripture: RFM: 425 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

What happens when trauma awareness turns into over-protection, and healing gets stuck in the identity of what harmed us? In this episode of Almost Awakened, Teresa Hobbs and Bill Reel unpack the concept of fragilization; the process by which individuals and cultures become organized around avoiding discomfort in the name of safety. Drawing from their work supporting people through religious trauma, deconstruction, and nervous system healing, Teresa and Bill explore how the instinct to protect ou...

Lee Krahenbuhl returns to Mormonism Live for a fascinating deep dive into some of the strangest and most unusual aspects of Mormon history. Discover the surprising connections between Brigham Young, matchmaking traditions, spirit messages from Joseph Smith, and the most famous magician of the 19th century. What hidden stories link Mormon leaders, spiritualism, and 19th-century magic? How do these strange connections reshape our understanding of LDS history? Don’t miss this eye-opening episode ...

Tonight on The Mormon Newscast RFM and Bill Reel dive deep into the latest from inside and around the LDS Church. Watch as we explain the headlines, the subtext, and the stuff members aren’t supposed to talk about out loud. Our main story tonight is the recently announced new LDS Leadership and what they are already saying. Stories include: Church avoids Dallas misstep in newest video Is the LDS Prophet called of God or not? – a question that Oaks may have answered himself. “We have work lef...

RFM is joined by Summur Rayn and Charles (aka “Black Priesthood”) to discuss important current issues facing Black Mormons throughout the world, including Africa. You won’t want to miss this thoughtful and penetrating conversation. The post Black Mormonism: RFM: 424 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Tonight on Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon sit down with writer and blogger Sarah Steed, whose essays contain sharp insight, poetic honesty, and unflinching critique of LDS culture. Sarah’s work dives deep into the unspoken layers of Mormon life—gender, perfectionism, obedience, and the lingering ghosts of patriarchy that shape the spiritual experience of both men and women. She explores how theology becomes culture, how “sisterhood” can sometimes turn into surveillance, and how ...

In this special episode, we take a in-depth look at the life and ministry of Elder Dallin H. Oaks, who stands next in line to become President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Few leaders have been as controversial —from his time as President of BYU to decades in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. We’ll explore the major moments that have shaped his spiritual approach to the gospel and to others: the legal mind that helped define Church policy, the Speaker who spoke boldly on ...

Tonight on The Mormon Newscast: From prophetic succession to public scandal, we’re covering another week of seismic shifts inside Mormonism. Russell M. Nelson’s Funeral & Succession Process Tim Ballard Back in the Headlines Mormon Doctor Charged The Family Proclamation as Doctrine? Temple Update Deseret Book & the New Mormon Orthodoxy Join the Conversation: Comment live, share your thoughts, and help us unpack what all this means for the modern Mormon movement. Support Independent Mormon ...

RFM is joined by special guest Dr. Julie Hanks to respond to the scurrilous accusations made against her by Jacob Hansen! This is going to be a lot of fun! The post Dr. Julie Hanks RESPONDS: RFM: 423 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this episode of Almost Awakened, Bill and Teresa explore one of the most misunderstood aspects of emotional health, boundaries. We unpack what safe and unsafe boundaries look like, how trauma and conditioning shape the ways we draw our lines, and why some “boundaries” are really just walls disguised as self-protection. You’ll learn how to identify when a boundary is rooted in fear versus self-respect, and how to create space for connection without sacrificing your safety or authenticity. If y...

Join Radio Free Mormon for a thoughtful (and sometimes irreverent) breakdown of the Saturday Afternoon Session of General Conference. This session often hides some of the most telling comments, and RFM is here to dissect every word, nuance, and contradiction. Expect humor, history, and a clear-eyed look behind the pulpit polish. The post GenCon Post Mortem: Sunday Afternoon: RFM: 422 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Traditionally the most “high-profile” session of the weekend, the Sunday Morning Session gets Radio Free Mormon’s full treatment. From prophetic posturing to carefully crafted soundbites, RFM highlights what’s said on the big stage—and what’s quietly avoided. If you want the conference decoded, this is the session to watch. The post GenCon Post Mortem: Sunday Morning: RFM: 421 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

What happens when your church convinces you that your own memories, questions, and feelings can’t be trusted? In this episode of Almost Awakened, Bill Reel and Teresa Hobbs unpack the dark art of religious gaslighting — how high-demand faiths twist reality, dismiss legitimate concerns, and make believers doubt themselves under the guise of “God’s will.” We’ll explore: What gaslighting is and how it got its name Five real-world examples from Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientology, and more H...

The era of temple mania may finally be over. For years, General Conference after General Conference felt like a temple-announcement arms race — a building boom meant to project momentum and growth. But this week, the LDS Church abruptly hit the brakes. No new temples announced. No new groundbreaking. Just… silence. Has the age of temple expansion officially ended, and what does that say about the state of the church? We’ll also break down Elder Rasband’s subtle — but significant — shift in rheto...