The LDS Women Project Podcast

To Shine a Light: An interview with Elizabeth Ostler

Elizabeth Ostler is a theater-maker, activist, and professor living in Brooklyn, New York. She specializes in directing and puppetry, and in coaching others on how to tell their stories. A survivor of childhood abuse and of an abusive marriage, she dedicates her artistic work to advocating for other victims and raising awareness about domestic violence and human trafficking. She has felt the companionship of the Savior throughout her life, and her knowledge of His love and of her inherent value helped her find the courage to walk away from abuse, to work through her trauma, and to shine a light for others. Elizabeth is co-editor of the Mormon Women Project. (Photos and interview transcription can be found at the MWP blog). 

Multiples and Miracles: an interview with Julie Bradshaw Grygla

Julie Grygla is the mother of six children under five years old. She and her husband achieved their first pregnancy with the help of fertility treatment, and gave birth to triplet boys. When their triplets were only five months old, Julie became pregnant spontaneously with twin girls, who were followed not long after by a baby boy. Their journey has carried them through many unexpected challenges, but Julie has depended on revelation and patience as she has navigated the abundance of motherhood one step at a time. Her own mother passed away unexpectedly while Julie was in graduate school, before her marriage. Julie has learned how to turn an isolated mourning into a connection with her mother and with God, both of whom she feels increasingly guiding her as her children grow older. (Photos and interview transcription can be found at the MWP blog). 

Seasons of Change: Stories of Transition

Editors Sandra Clark Jergensen and Shelah Mastny Miner discuss Segullah's new anthology, Seasons of Change, with Meredith Nelson. It contains over fifty essays, stories, and poems written by LDS women on the topic of transition.

End of the Childbearing Years: Heather's Story

In 2017, an MWP reader named Heather reached out to us suggesting we cover the topic of the end of childbearing. Her idea blossomed into our End of the Childbearing Years series, in which we published nearly a hundred stories from Mormon women about this important life transition. Meredith Nelson interviews Heather about her own story in this episode, beginning with her childhood in Salt Lake County in the 1970s and 80s, the third in a family of nine children. They discuss what Heather learned through her journey about womanhood, mothering, agency, and revelation.

Eva Witesman

Eva Witesman, a professor of public management at the BYU Marriot School of Business, joins Meredith Nelson in this episode. They discuss Eva's viral BYU devotional, which commented on the right each woman has to her own personal revelation regarding her educational or personal path. In this podcast Eva follows up on some of the ideas in her devotional, and talks more about her own career and family journey.

Mother's Milk: Poems in Search of Heavenly Mother

In this episode, Meredith Nelson interviews Rachel Hunt Steenblik about her recently published book, Mother's Milk: Poems in Search of Heavenly Mother, illustrated by Ashley May Hoiland. Rachel talks about the fading taboo of talking about Heavenly Mother, about her own research and personal searching regarding Mother in Heaven, and about the lovely small poems she wrote to illuminate this searching.

Women At Church: PART 2

This is part 2 of an interview with Neylan McBaine, author of Women at Church: Magnifying LDS Women's Local Impact (2014), who joins Meredith Nelson to discuss her book and her additional perspectives and experiences since its publication. In Part 1, Neylan talked about some of the challenges we currently grapple with as church members when it comes to gender relations. In Part 2, she outlines some creative solutions, and her hopes for the future of the Relief Society.

Women At Church: PART 1

Neylan McBaine, author of Women at Church: Magnifying LDS Women's Local Impact (2014), joins Meredith Nelson to discuss her book and her additional perspectives and experiences since its publication. In Part 1, Neylan talks about some of the challenges we currently grapple with as church members when it comes to gender relations.

At the Pulpit

Meredith Nelson interviews Jenny Reeder and Kate Holbrook, about their recent book At the Pulpit: 185 Years of Discourses by Latter-Day Saint Women. They discuss women's authority, titles, words, themes and experiences across the history of the church.

Our Heavenly Family, Our Earthly Families

In this episode, Elizabeth Ostler interviews McArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding about their book Our Heavenly Family, Our Earthly Families, published in 2016 by Deseret Book.