In this episode, Valerie shares an inspiring journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth with The Wholeness Network. The theme was Brene Brown's exploration of the concept of "Braving the Wilderness" and on the heels of three years of learning to live & love one's truth at a potentially high social cost, Val felt that she had a couple of things to say about this.
This episode is a sharing of history, emotion on both ends of the spectrum and ultimately, a tale of courage, compassion, and finding one's true place in the world.
00:00 Finding My Path: Early Struggles and Discoveries
00:40 A Surprising Call to Ministry
01:06 Discovering a Passion for Therapy
02:38 The Journey to Graduate School
03:18 Embracing Complexity in Faith and Life
04:40 Launching a Podcast: Unexpected Success
07:40 Understanding the Faith Journey
08:11 Stages of Faith and Personal Growth
10:25 Challenges and Courage in Faith Transitions
15:40 The Role of Compassion and Empathy
23:45 Trusting Oneself and Embracing the Divine Within
27:49 The Price and Reward of Spiritual Journeys
28:05 Experiences of Resonance and Support
33:28 Navigating Faith and Personal Growth
42:36 Understanding Patriarchy in Faith Communities
50:58 The Impact of Enmeshed Family Systems
58:22 Embracing Wholeness and Self-Integration
Afterward: After their forced resignation from the LDS church in March of 2025, Val & Nathan were invited to share their stories on about a dozen podcasts. Due to Nathan's currently heavy travel schedule, most of these guest appearances are (unfortunately!) just Valerie. Thanks for sharing this journey with the Hamakers!
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