Today's episode of Infants on Thrones dives into the intriguing world of lies and deception, inspired by a video from independent journalist Johnny Harris. I'm Glenn Ostlund, and I'm thrilled to share insights from Johnny's compelling investigation into why we lie, why we believe lies, and what we can do about it.Johnny Harris, with over 5 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, explores the complex nature of lying, touching on both intentional and unintentional falsehoods. His video delves into the neuroscience of deception, using humor and expert interviews to shed light on this pervasive human behavior. We'll discuss the evolutionary roots of lying, the brain's reward system, and how repetition influences belief formation through the illusory truth effect.Join me as I review Johnny Harris' video and add my own perspective on these fascinating topics. Together, we'll explore the intricate dance between truth and lies, uncovering how our brains process information and how social media shapes our perceptions.Show Notes:IntroductionOverview of today's episode inspired by Johnny Harris' videoGlenn's enthusiasm for Johnny Harris and his investigative workLink to Johnny Harris' YouTube channelMain Discussion: Understanding LiesThe complexity of lying: Intentional vs. Unintentional liesDefinitions and distinctions: Lies, truth, intentionality, and unintentionalityExamples from "Mean Girls" to illustrate different types of liesNeuroscience of LyingInsights from neuroscientists on the brain's reward systemEvolutionary perspective: How lying and passing along wrong information evolvedProcessing information: New vs. established neural pathwaysPsychological MechanismsIllusory truth effect: Repetition and belief formationConfirmation bias: How we accept and reject information based on existing beliefsEvolutionary success: Myths and stories as survival mechanismsSocial Media and Modern Information ConsumptionThe impact of social media on our perception of truth and liesNavigating the world of misinformation and lies: Tips and strategiesConclusionEmbracing curiosity and open-mindednessThe power of "I don't know"Reflecting on personal growth and evolving perspectivesResources Mentioned:Johnny Harris' YouTube channelMean Girls movie clipsNeuroscience research on the brain's reward systemArticles and studies on the illusory truth effect and confirmation biasQuotes to Remember:"I lie. And you lie. We all lie. And more importantly, we all believe lies.""Pay attention to your bricks, your thoughts, your feelings, your moment-by-moment experience.""Arrive curious. Empathize with others and seek to understand."Call to Action:Subscribe to Infants on Thrones for more thought-provoking discussionsCheck out Johnny Harris' investigative videos on YouTubeShare your thoughts and experiences with us on social media or in the commentsThank you for listening to Infants on Thrones! Join us next time as we continue to explore the complexities of the human experience and seek further light and knowledge together.

In this reflective minisode, Glenn explores the origins and evolution of the Infants on Thrones podcast. He shares personal insights from the podcast's beginnings in 2012, the inspiration behind its unique name, and how the themes have resonated and transformed over the years. Glenn discusses his journey in clinical mental health counseling and how his experiences as a gospel doctrine teacher, missionary, and podcaster have enriched his current work leading court-mandated domestic violence support groups.Glenn delves into profound topics such as the King Follett discourse, the evolution of human intelligence, and the interconnectedness of all life forms. He reflects on anger management, the role of emotions in human evolution, and the significance of recognizing and understanding our own feelings. Additionally, Glenn invites listeners to contribute their own essays and ideas, fostering a community of shared perspectives and mutual growth.Show NotesKey Points:Podcast Origins and Evolution:The inception of Infants on Thrones in 2012.The inspiration behind the podcast's name from Joseph Smith's King Follett discourse.The metaphor of "infants on thrones" representing humanity's learning and growth stages.Personal and Professional Journey:Glenn's completion of his master's degree in clinical mental health counseling.His work with court-mandated domestic violence support groups.The integration of his past experiences into his current counseling practice.Philosophical and Spiritual Reflections:Insights from the King Follett discourse and its implications on human existence.The concept of evolving intelligence and awareness in both a spiritual and scientific context.The impact of emotions, especially anger, on human survival and evolution.Invitation to Listeners:Encouragement for listeners to submit their own essays and perspectives.The importance of diverse viewpoints and shared experiences within the podcast community.Future Topics and Ideas:Glenn's interest in exploring topics like Star Wars, moral foundations, and cultural divisions.Upcoming episodes focusing on themes like "The Righteous Jedi Mind" and the work of independent journalist Johnny Harris.Listener Invitation:Glenn invites listeners to submit their own content to be featured on the podcast. Interested individuals can send their recordings to [email protected] for consideration.Quotes:"We are in this learning and growing stage, exploring and getting things wrong, having really limited ways of processing and understanding reality at large.""Our brains have evolved the ability to be aware that we're aware that we're aware. And that's a level of awareness that neighboring primates don't seem to quite have.""I love this idea of different people sharing their perspectives and having it be in a place where it can be appreciated."Links and Resources:Email submissions: [email protected] Tong's YouTube video on Quantum Field Theory: Quantum Field Theory by David TongJohnny Harris' YouTube channel: Johnny Harris on YouTubeTED Talk on anger management: Why We get Angry and Why it is HealthyClosing:Thank you for listening to Infants on Thrones. If you've been with us since the beginning or are just joining, we'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, contribute your essays, and be part of our growing community. Until next time, keep exploring, questioning, and learning

A boy's first uttered prayer? 

In this learning-out-loud episode, Glenn dives into the fascinating world of Slavoj Žižek's "The Pervert's Guide to Ideology" and explores the intricate interplay of ideas from Hegel, Lacan, and Marx. Glenn shares his preparation process for an upcoming discussion with Josh, blending a healthy dose of curiosity and philosophical inquiry.Glenn also discusses the upcoming migration of the "Infants on Thrones" podcast to a new host and ensures listeners can continue enjoying the content seamlessly. Visit infantsonthrones.com for all episodes and updates.Join Glenn on this intellectual journey as he unpacks the complexities of ideology, consciousness, and human experience through the lens of Hegelian dialectics, Lacanian psychoanalysis, and Marxist critique. Glenn even brings contemporary neuroscience into the mix, providing a holistic understanding of how our internal and external worlds shape our reality.Show Notes:Introduction:Glenn introduces the episode and shares his learning process in preparation for discussing Žižek's "The Pervert's Guide to Ideology" with Josh.Announcement about the migration of the "Infants on Thrones" podcast to a new host and how listeners can stay updated.Žižek Primer:Glenn's curiosity-driven exploration of Žižek's ideas.The blending of Hegel, Lacan, and Marx in Žižek's philosophy.Glenn's interaction with ChatGPT to deepen his understanding.Deep Dive into Philosophical Concepts:Hegel's dialectics: Thesis, antithesis, and synthesis.Lacanian psychoanalysis: The mirror stage, symbolic order, and repetition compulsion.Marx's critique of capitalism: Class structures, alienation, and exploitation.Neuroscience Integration:How neuroscience supports the dynamic interplay between internal (X) and external (Y) forces.The concept of neuroplasticity and its implications for human experience.X plus Y equals Z - The Formula of Perfection:Glenn's theory explained through the lens of Hegel, Lacan, Marx, and neuroscience.The interplay between internal forces (X), external forces (Y), and the resulting synthesized experience (Z).Gestalt Therapy and Stoic Principles:How Gestalt therapy focuses on awareness, integration, and empowerment.The Stoic emphasis on virtue, rationality, and emotional resilience.Application of Gestalt and Stoic principles to the X plus Y equals Z formula.Potential Heresies and Reactions:Exploration of how these philosophical ideas might challenge established dogmas and trigger defensive reactions.Conclusion:Glenn's reflections on the preparation process and anticipation for the upcoming discussion with Josh.Encouragement for listeners to engage with these ideas and explore their own intellectual curiosity.Tune in for an enlightening episode that blends philosophy, neuroscience, and personal reflection, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding human experience as a dynamic, evolving process. Don't miss this intellectual adventure with Glenn on The Spiritual Heretic Podcast!

Welcome to the latest episode of “The Spiritual Heretic,” where Glenn and Josh delve into the profound and often controversial realm of spiritual heresy. In this episode, they explore the deeply ingrained boundaries and containers placed on questioning and exploring within various belief systems, particularly focusing on the influences from their own backgrounds and broader […]

In this episode of “The Spiritual Heretic” series, Glenn and Josh dive into the profound teachings of Alan Watts on the concept of “No Wrong Feelings.” They explore the importance of acknowledging and accepting all emotions, challenging the societal norms that often suppress genuine self-expression. Glenn shares his admiration for Alan Watts and discusses how […]

In this episode of “The Spiritual Heretic” series, Glenn and Josh dive into the profound teachings of Alan Watts on the concept of “No Wrong Feelings.” They explore the importance of acknowledging and accepting all emotions, challenging the societal norms that often suppress genuine self-expression. Glenn shares his admiration for Alan Watts and discusses how […]

Welcome to “The Spiritual Heretic, Part 2” where we dive deep into the complexities of belief, ideology, and the human experience. In this episode, titled “Conspiracy Theories: Unpacking Ideological Warfare,” Glenn Ostlund and Josh Neal take you on an insightful journey into the world of conspiracy theories. We explore how conspiracy theories function as tools […]

Welcome to “The Spiritual Heretic, Part 2” where we dive deep into the complexities of belief, ideology, and the human experience. In this episode, titled “Conspiracy Theories: Unpacking Ideological Warfare,” Glenn Ostlund and Josh Neal take you on an insightful journey into the world of conspiracy theories. We explore how conspiracy theories function as tools […]

In this episode of “Infants on Thrones,” hosts Josh and Glenn dive deep into the essence of heresy as a vital and healthy force within both the human body and society. Drawing metaphors from biology, they discuss how T cells and osteoblasts function to maintain health by addressing aberrant cells and weak bone tissue, respectively. […]

Episode 864 of Infants on Thrones delves into the intriguing world of past life regression therapy in “Past Life Regression Therapy: A Case Study in Self Discovery.” Join us as we explore a thought-provoking session where hypnotherapy opens the door to deep self-reflection and personal narratives that transcend the boundaries of time and identity. This […]

In this thought-provoking episode, Glenn and Josh dive deep into the philosophical and existential inquiries surrounding consciousness, the material world, and the potential of artificial intelligence. Our discussion unfolds through the metaphor of a tuning fork, illustrating how individual experiences resonate uniquely based on personal histories and environmental interactions. We explore the notion of consciousness […]

Glenn sits down once again with psychotherapist Josh Neal to discuss idealogical warfare. Check out The Arcturian Playground for more Mormon-formed-mind inspired stretching of eternal perspective. What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn sits down once again with psychotherapist Josh Neal to put his channeling under the microscope of a gestalt therapist and talk about his experiences with The Arcturian Collective Thingy. Check out The Arcturian Playground for more mormon-formed-mind inspired stretching of eternal perspective. What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out […]

Josh has a few things to say about Millennials and disillusionment, starting with himself. Glenn sits down once again with psychotherapist Josh Neal to talk about whatever comes up in the moment.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon […]

Why is it healthy to get sunshine on your balls? Glenn sits down once again with psychotherapist Josh Neal to talk about whatever comes up in the moment.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn sits down once again with psychotherapist Josh Neal to talk about whatever comes up in the moment.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn sits down with author Brenda Stanley to discuss her murder-mystery “The Still Small Voice.” We will have a live Zoom video discussion with Brenda on Wedneday, Jan 31 at 7pm.  Click here at that time if you would like to join the discussion. What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill […]

Merry Christmas from the ghost of Infant Christmas Present. Watch the video version of Mormon News Roundup here.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Merry Christmas from the ghost of Infant Christmas Present. Watch the video version of Mormon News Roundup here.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Merry Christmas from the ghost of Infant Christmas Present. Watch the video version of Mormon News Roundup here.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Merry Christmas from the ghosts of Infant Christmas Past.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Merry Christmas from the ghosts of Infant Christmas Past.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Merry Christmas from the ghosts of Infant Christmas Past.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Merry Christmas from the ghosts of Infant Christmas Past.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Merry Christmas from the ghosts of Infant Christmas Past.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Merry Christmas from the ghosts of Infant Christmas Past.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Merry Christmas from the ghosts of Infant Christmas Past.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Merry Christmas from the ghosts of Infant Christmas Past.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Merry Christmas from the ghosts of Infant Christmas Past.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Merry Christmas from the ghosts of Infant Christmas Past.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Merry Christmas from the ghost of Infant Christmas Past.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

What if you were a self-regulating wave on an ocean and the entire ocean that also was you, but you could only really regulate that one little wave? Or should it be color blocks? Or maybe its just “what are you experiencing right now?” Glenn sits down once again with psychotherapist Josh Neal to discuss […]

Where does the self begin and end?  Where does love begin and end?  When will all of the questioning end?  What if nothing ends?  What if these are all just words?  What if?  Yeah, what if. Glenn sits down once again with psychotherapist Josh Neal to discuss the importance of self love from the perspective […]

Glenn sits down once again with psychotherapist Josh Neal to discuss what healing means from the perspective of a gestalt therapist.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn sits down once again with psychotherapist Josh Neal to discuss the desire to be authentic in a world hungry to crucify apostates.   What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

A blast from the past.  This episode was first released in May 2014.  The Mormon Cred Scale has since been taken 8,333 times.  It’s a fun discussion between a bunch of blind infants trying to understand an elephant.  Or something like that.  Enjoy! What is your Mormon Cred?  Take a few minutes to fill out […]

Glenn sits down with psychotherapist Josh Neal to discuss the lessons learned from experiencing major life adjustments following a religious faith crisis.

This episode continues exploring on the relationship between the conscious mind and the unconscious mind and explores the role that AI could play in humans becoming more aware of their own dark shadowy mind.  Donald Hoffman and David Eagleman are invoked and imitated by Chat GPT.  Ditto for Jack and Jill, who join an AI […]

This episode focuses on the relationship between the conscious mind and the unconscious mind and explores the role that AI could play in humans becoming more aware of their own dark shadowy mind. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

What happens when an Infantile mind gets ahold of a lecture from Yuval Harari about Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity?  How about a new 6-part series for Infants on Thrones?  This is episode 1 of 6.   The Reading List mentioned on the episode:    – “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by […]

What happens when Artificial Intelligence compares current Mormon teachings against original Mormon teachings? Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Who is ready for AI to change the way we think and act about pretty much everything? Check out my new website: dowofhealing.com Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

It’s testimony time.  Sorta.   Check out my new website: dowofhealing.com Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

What is religious trauma?  What is healing?  And what is the relationship between our conscious awareness and our unconscious programming? This 4-part series is an updated reissue of conversations between Glenn Ostlund and Bill Reel originally recorded in Sep-Oct 2020. And if you are interested in finding out more about your own unconscious trauma, check […]

Glenn responds to a listener question about harm, divine authority, and babies in bathwater.

Merry Christmas from a Divine Atheist.

Glenn sits down with Britt Hartley to discuss what it means to be secularly spiritual. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn sits down with Wren to talk about shifting perspectives after this whole Mormon faith crisis thing. Check out The Arcturian Playground here Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn sits down with Wren to talk about shifting perspectives after this whole Mormon faith crisis thing. Check out The Arcturian Playground here Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn sits down with Wren to talk about shifting perspectives after this whole Mormon faith crisis thing. Check out The Arcturian Playground here Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn sits down with Wren to talk about shifting perspectives after this whole Mormon faith crisis thing. Check out The Arcturian Playground here Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn sits down with Wren to talk about shifting perspectives after this whole Mormon faith crisis thing. Check out The Arcturian Playground here Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn sits down with Britt Hartley to discuss what it means to be secularly spiritual. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Yes.  It’s exactly what the title says. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

What does it mean to have emotional intelligence?  What does it mean to Placebo yourself all day long? Glenn sits down with Chelsea Shields to discuss The Placebo Effect in 2022. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Chelsea discusses the placebo effects (and no-cebo effects) associated with the rise of social media.  The final episode in this Chelsea-centered Placebo Reflections series.  This discussion was recorded in Sep 2019 but was previously released on Patreon only. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

A classic blast from Infant past, originally published in October 2014. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

A classic blast from Infant past, originally published in September 2014. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

A classic blast from Infant past, originally published in September 2014. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

A classic blast from Infant past, originally published in June 2014. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

A classic blast from Infant past, originally published in April 2014. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

What do you get when you mix a Mormon-formed mind with a bunch of other stuff and mash it up in the sausage grinder of imaginative creativity?   Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here Visit the Arcturian Playground here.

A classic blast from Infant past, originally published in March 2014. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

A classic blast from the Infant past, originally published in January 2014. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Wren joins Glenn for a fascinating conversation about the continued search for meaning post-faith transition in what seems like an increasingly chaotic world. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Jared Rohrer joins a panel of Reed, Jess, Curt, Wren and Glenn to discuss his experience healing intense self-loathing and shame about his sexuality.   You can follow Jared’s Instagram at https://instagram.com/jaredrdc?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Steve Urquhart was recently featured in Rolling Stone Magazine.  It is a great article that gives exposure to much of the healing work that Steve has inspired in so many. To commemorate this accomplishment, I am re-releasing this previously 4-part interview from Feb 2021 for any looking to find out more about this man and […]

In light of recent federal events, Glenn revists the Saturday’s Warriors sing-along-Smackdown episode featuring OG Infants John Hamer, Randy Snyder, and Matt Long (originally recorded and released in March 2015).   Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Wren leads a panel of Jessica, Curt, Glenn and Sabrina on a discussion of LGBT Pride.

Glenn is joined by Jess, Curt and Wren to wrap up the discussion of Hulu’s “Under the Banner of Heaven” and spend some time comparing it to the Netflix documentary “Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey” about the FLDS and Warren Jeffs.   Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn is joined by Jess and Wren to discuss episode 4 of Hulu’s “Under the Banner of Heaven” (with a special bonus visit from Infant Emeritus Extraordinaire Tom “don’t call me a rockstar” Perry). Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

According to Brigham Young, some sins are so bad that the only way to get back to Heavenly Father is to have your own blood spilt (aka “thanks for the atonement Jesus, but you may have missed something!”).  But don’t take my word for it.  Listen to the words of Brigham Young himself, spoken on […]

Glenn is joined once again by Reed, Jess, Wren and Curt to discuss episode 3 of Hulu’s “Under the Banner of Heaven.”   Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn is joined once again by Reed, Jess, Wren and Curt to discuss episodes 1 & 2 of Hulu’s “Under the Banner of Heaven.”   Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Come and play with me in the realm of imagination. You can access the Arcturian Playground here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OThH3NLhCRc&t=9s Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

What is more important: feeling that you are certain or actually being certain?  Jess, Reed, Wren and Curt share their experience with certainty.   Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here Schedule a free 30-min Life Coaching consult with Glenn here

Glenn welcomes a new Infant panel of Reed, Jessica, Wren, Curt, and Mike to discuss April 2022 general conference and say hello to the Infant listeners.  No actual soaking occurred during the recording of this episode. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here Schedule a free 30-min Life Coaching consult with […]

Those who have ears (that are mighty and strong) to hear will understand.

Or should it be POMO?

The title says it all. If you have a story of empowerment that you would like to share, please sign up to be interviewed here.

The title says it all. If you have a story of empowerment that you would like to share, please sign up to be interviewed here.

Glenn is joined once again by Wendi Jensen to interview her friend Cynthia Markey.  Cyndi is a former Jehovah’s Witness and today you are going to hear her talk about the painful cost she paid in leaving that religion, and the many wonderful things she has created – and is continuing to create – as […]

We all know what it means to be “former LDS” (but do we, really?) but what does it mean to be empowered?  Listen in as Glenn interviews life coach Wendi Jensen, author of “Healing Questions,” as they discuss the introduction of a new podcast. If you have a story of empowerment that you would like […]

Consider this free therapy.  I did.   Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn reads an actual blog post written by an actual True Believing Mormon that actually compares the actual gospel to all things Tolkien. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here Schedule a free 30-min Life Coaching consult with Glenn here

Real men take it black.  Tom shares the mental gymnastics he went through as he was seduced by that very first cup of word of wisdom forbidden dark temptress. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here Schedule a free 30-min Life Coaching consult with Glenn here

Mormon missions aren’t exactly everything you think they are. Glenn shares some stories about his missionary trainer, aka “The Streaking Samurai.” Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here Schedule a free 30-min Life Coaching consult with Glenn here

Glenn shares one of his greatest regrets.  The phone call that he wishes he would have had with his former best friend, before that best friend took his own life.   Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here Schedule a free 30-min Life Coaching consult with Glenn here

Glenn recalls a very entertaining priesthood lesson.  Yes, this actually happened.   Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here Schedule a free 30-min Life Coaching consult with Glenn here

Glenn responds to listen “Annie” an active PIMO (Physically In, Mentally Out) BYU Student whose dear friend married a transgender woman and has to hide it from everyone at BYU.   Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here Support the podcast on Patreon here Schedule a free 30-min Life Coaching consult with Glenn here

The story of the Mormon church trying to flush a slightly off-message conference talk down the memory hole back in 1984.  What was so “off message” that they had to try to change it forever?  (That’s what is so… revealing). Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn responds to a listener’s question: “How do you replace religious existential dread for more ‘real’ existential dread about climate crisis, political and economic unrest, and what that means for the future of a young person.” Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Welcome to February 2022.  The Infants on Thrones podcast will be turning 10 years old this year. To reflect upon the impact that this podcast has made on my life — and the impact that my life has made on this podcast — I am creating a multi-part series called “Reflections” where we revisit some […]

That’s right.  The One True Truth is finally here. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Pushing pause on the 13-part reflections series, but first — this.   Glenn Ostlund will be speaking and leading two breakout sessions at the Jan 22, 2022 Thrive Conference in Phoenix. Purchase your tickets here. Fill out the Mindfulness Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Welcome to January 2022.  The Infants on Thrones podcast will be turning 10 years old this year. To reflect upon the impact that this podcast has made on my life — and the impact that my life has made on this podcast — I am creating a 13-part series called “Reflections” that will run through […]

Welcome to January 2022.  The Infants on Thrones podcast will be turning 10 years old this year. To reflect upon the impact that this podcast has made on my life — and the impact that my life has made on this podcast — I am creating a 13-part series called “Reflections” that will run through […]

Welcome to January 2022.  The Infants on Thrones podcast will be turning 10 years old this year. To reflect upon the impact that this podcast has made on my life — and the impact that my life has made on this podcast — I am creating a 13-part series called “Reflections” that will run through […]

Welcome to January 2022.  The Infants on Thrones podcast will be turning 10 years old this year. To reflect upon the impact that this podcast has made on my life — and the impact that my life has made on this podcast — I am creating a 13-part series called “Reflections” that will run through […]

Welcome to January 2022.  The Infants on Thrones podcast will be turning 10 years old this year. To reflect upon the impact that this podcast has made on my life — and the impact that my life has made on this podcast — I am creating a 13-part series called “Reflections” that will run through […]

For the ninth – and final — gift of Infant Christmas, an Infant gave to me, a brand new sorta-Christmassy mini-sode from 2021 called, “A Very Merry Visit from Death.”

For the eighth gift of Infant Christmas an Infant gave to me, a re-birthed episode from 2016 called: “Light the World Christmas Smackaround.”

For the seventh gift of Infant Christmas an Infant gave to me, a re-birthed episode from 2015 called: “Disproving Santa.”

For the sixth gift of Infant Christmas an Infant gave to me, a re-birthed minisode from 2015 called: “The Ghost of Christmas Past.”

For the fifth gift of Infant Christmas an Infant gave to me, a re-birthed episode from 2015 called: “Away in a Manger: The Smackdown.”

For the fourth gift of Infant Christmas an Infant gave to me, a re-birthed mini-sode from 2015 called: “First Presidency Christmas Message (featuring Neil Diamond).”

For the third gift of Infant Christmas an Infant gave to me, a re-birthed mini-sode from 2015 called: “Bah Humbug – The Dallin H. Oaks Christmas Card mini-Smackdown.”

For the second gift of Infant Christmas an Infant gave to me, a re-birthed mini-sode from 2014 called: “Zelph on the Shelph.”

For the first gift of Infant Christmas an Infant gave to me, a re-birthed episode from 2014 called: “The Christmas Jesus and Stuff.”

I really love to watch them roll.

If you chance to meet a frown, do not let it stay. Simply put it in the “eternal perspective” box, and reframe that frown away. (Or at least let it know it has a legit reason for being there, even if you can’t completely understand what that is!)

Do beliefs just go away, or do they simply change? For example, does “I do not believe in God” mean the same thing as “I do believe that there is no God?”

Is it actually true that even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes?

Jake, Heather, and Glenn discuss Jonathan Haidt’s book “The Righteous Mind.”  Originally published March 2017.

What happens when belief becomes a burden that you actually do bear? (Bare? Bear? Bare?)

Or the stain-glassed kaleidoscope of my Mormon-formed mind. You choose.

Da da da da da, dadadada. Da da da da da da. Da da. (da da)

Do as I’m doing.  Or don’t.

Where were you when you first heard about the November 2015 Exclusion Policy? Fill out the new Mindfulness Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn shares a true Mormon story about a truly spooky ghost story that is truly Mormon and truly spooky and even more truly a story. Fill out the new Mindfulness Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn is joined once again by non-woo-woo, non-crystal-clutching Jake Parent to discuss psychedelics, consciousness, the nature of reality, and the holographic mind. Fill out the new Mindfulness Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn speaks to author Cody Noconi about his research into the psychedelic origins of Mormonism. Fill out the new Mindfulness Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn shares a Patreon sharing time episode about reactions and over-reactions and how to marry a mormon. Fill out the new Mindfulness Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Today Infants on Thrones celebrates crossing the threshold of 7 million total downloads (and Glenn’s recent recovery from Covid) by sharing a few thoughts about mindfulness and a journey back to the first episode published on this podcast.  You are also invited to share your thoughts on mindfulness in a new survey.  Enjoy!   Fill […]

I am beyond thrilled to welcome back the full Mormons on Mushrooms panel of Mike, Shelise, and Doug – yes, welcome back Doug!  And yes, it is another episode where we play in the sandbox of symbols and stories and fictions that are probably a little different – or maybe very very different – from […]

Can steel-manning an argument help me change my partner’s mind? Join the new study group here. Fill out the Return to Kolob Extra Terrestrial Belief Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Does “Free Will” mean that your choices are independent from everything that is? Join the new study group here. Fill out the Return to Kolob Extra Terrestrial Belief Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Welcoming back beloved Infant brothers John Hamer and Randy Snyder to talk about God, meaning, and Randy’s miraculous conversion to the Jehovah’s Witnesses.   Join the new study group here. Fill out the Return to Kolob Extra Terrestrial Belief Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.  Yes, a smackdown of Holland’s recent talk.  Also known as Musket Love.   Join the new study group here. Fill out the Return to Kolob Extra Terrestrial Belief Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn is joined once again y Shelise and Mike from the Mormons on Mushrooms podcast to talk about synchronicity and whether or not the still small voice is what lead them out of the Mormon Church.   Join the new study group here. Fill out the Return to Kolob Extra Terrestrial Belief Survey here. Support the […]

Ryan is a listener of Infants on Thrones.  Ryan is super angry at the Mormon church.  Ryan wants to burn it all down, but all of Ryan’s family and friends are still in the building and are absolutely loving it.  What should Ryan do?  Glenn shares some personal experiences from his 2008 exit of the […]

Wouldn’t it be cool if there was gorgeous graphic novel telling the magical stories of Joseph Smith as a treasure digger?  Well, now there is.  Thank you Mark Elwood. Check out the promotional video for The Glass Looker: Collected Tales of Joseph Smith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVMXP8xXvaM   Join the new study group here. Fill out the Return […]

Can logic and faith co-exist?  Zach really wants to know.  Zach is a 31-year old actor, teacher, and father of two with one foot in the LDS church and one foot out.  He wants to effect positive change within the LDS church.  Will he do it by reinforcing the seven deadly habits of external control psychology […]

Glenn interviews Katie about her book “Sealed: An Unexpected Journey into the Heart of Grace,” which feels the story of an anxious devout young Mormon girl who grows up to become a Lutheran preacher.  Find more from Katie at her website here.

Do you know your own mind?

Time for another story.

It's not just the title of a 1989 Mormon propaganda video.  Glenn is joined once again by Mike and Shelise fro the Mormons on Mushrooms podcast to discuss Mormonism through the lens of Donald Hoffman's "Case Against Reality." Check out more from Donald Hoffman here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd6CQCbk2ro&t=12s

Is it really possible to choose your thoughts like you choose your clothing? Dr. Jerome, a functional neurologist, weighs in. If you are interested in learning more and seeing how you can apply this to your own life, click the link below to schedule a free 30-minute consult with me and let’s see if coaching […]

More playing around in the world of fiction and symbols to cobble together some sense of meaning in a world we might all be making up as we go along. Check out the new study group here. Fill out the Return to Kolob Extra Terrestrial Belief Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

The discussion continues with Mike and Shelise from the Mormons on Mushrooms podcast.  Today we talk about soul groups, soul contracts, blueprints, overlays, and walk-ins. Join the new study group here. Fill out the Return to Kolob Extra Terrestrial Belief Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

If you are interested in a more interactive and collaborative podcasting experience, sign up for the new study group: https://www.patreon.com/iotstudygroupthingy Fill out the Return to Kolob Extra Terrestrial Belief Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Mike and Shelise from the Mormons on Mushrooms podcast join Glenn to discuss the similarities and differences between Wendy Kennedy’s Pleiadian Perspectives and Joseph Smith’s early Mormon cosmology which greatly influenced our Mormon-formed minds. Fill out the new Extra Terrestrial Belief Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Mike and Shelise from the Mormons on Mushrooms podcast join Glenn to discuss the similarities and differences between Wendy Kennedy’s Pleiadian Perspectives and Joseph Smith’s early Mormon cosmology which greatly influenced our Mormon-formed minds. Fill out the new Extra Terrestrial Belief Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

All onions have layer.  Not all layers have onions.  This is sound logic.  Absence of evidence may be evidence of absence, but ignorance of evidence is most definitely evidence of ignorance.  Proceed now as you would if you were intending to proceed, for this is the way, and the way is the Dow. Fill out […]

Reuben Langdon is an international stuntman, actor, filmmaker, and video game star who has worked on movies like Avatar, Pirates of the Caribbean, Power Rangers, Scott Pilgrim, and others. He is also the creator of the original docuseries “Interviews with Extra Dimensionals” which you can find on Gaia. In 2013 Reuben co-produced “The Citizens Hearing […]

We are not alone. The truth is out there. The worth of a soul is great. The field is white, ready for the extra-dimensional harvest. Buckle up. This is going to be fun.   Fill out the new Extra Terrestrial Belief Survey here. Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn sits down with Jake Parent (who is not a woo-woo crystal-clutcher) to discuss his healing role as a breathwork facilitator.   Take a few minutes to fill out this new survey. Support the podcast on Patreon here

What happens when a white African refugee kid from the Congo moves to Tennessee, joins and the Pentecostal church, grows up, leaves the Pentecostal church, experiences crushing migraines, searches for medical-neurological-based answers, can’t find them, stumbles across the enneagram, sees the potential value for creating a whole-brain approach to healing and becomes the change he […]

Is Weird Al one of the Three Nephites? Eric Herman (aka “Weird Alma”) has done the Mormon/not-Mormon thing and put a lot of it to music. This is his story.  Enjoy.   Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here

A follow-up to last week’s Free Will discussion, Glenn responds to some listener feedback regarding determinism, consciousness, and the mind-body problem. Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here

Glenn sits down with listener Eric to discuss Sam Harris’ arguments against Free Will. Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Glenn sits down with listener Eric to discuss Sam Harris’ arguments against Free Will. Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Glenn welcomes Russell M Nelson (not really) onto the podcast for a little discussion about lazy learning. Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Today I sit down with Dr. Ryan Lee to discuss religious recovery for former members of high control religious groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormonism, among others. While the doctrines of high control religions (often referred to as “cults”) may vary, the underlying dynamics of these groups are often very similar. They usually demand absolute […]

Glenn sits down with recently former angry ex-Mormon Adam Watanabe to discuss the pros and cons of anger. Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Glenn sits down with recently former angry ex-Mormon Adam Watanabe to discuss the pros and cons of anger. Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Does general conference make you angry?  Whatchya gonna do about that?   Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Glenn is interviewed by Lindsay Hyde, of the Happy Ex-mo podcast, and also shares a few other nuggets of something. Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Glenn is joined by fellow infants Heather Craw, Jake Frost, and John Hamer to discuss the Mark Hoffman documentary Murder Among the Mormons that is streaming on Netflix. Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Reed Christensen isn’t happy about this whole faith crisis thing. It leads to too much discomfort. He would much rather just have peace. Will he find it? Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Reed Christensen isn’t happy about this whole faith crisis thing. It leads to too much discomfort. He would much rather just have peace. Will he find it? Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Reed Christensen isn’t happy about this whole faith crisis thing. It leads to too much discomfort. He would much rather just have peace. Will he find it? Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Reed Christensen isn’t happy about this whole faith crisis thing. It leads to too much discomfort. He would much rather just have peace. Will he find it? Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Reed Christensen isn’t happy about this whole faith crisis thing. It leads to too much discomfort. He would much rather just have peace. Will he find it? Fill out the new survey here.  Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Steve discusses the legal protections provided by his new church, The Divine Assembly, and encourages members to safely and sincerely view this as “good religion” — as a way to connect with the Divine. Become a member of the Divine Assembly here. Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Part 3 of 4 in this series.  Steve discusses what he learned about himself with plant medicines like Ayahuasca and his role in supporting LGBTQ legislation in Utah. Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Paer2 of this series: Former Utah State Senator Steve Urquhart created a new church called The Divine Assembly around a Psychedelic Sacrament.  In this three-part series, Glenn is joined by Medical Cannabis crusader Christine Stenquist to explore who Steve is, why he created this church, and what legal protections he hopes to provide to those […]

Former Utah State Senator Steve Urquhart created a new church called The Divine Assembly around a Psychedelic Sacrament.  In this three-part series, Glenn is joined by Medical Cannabis crusader Christine Stenquist to explore who Steve is, why he created this church, and what legal protections he hopes to provide to those who desire an entheogenic […]

Are you sick and tired of people you love being deceived by bad ideas? Glenn is joined Reed, Mike, and special guest Lu Alofipo from the Think on Your Faith podcast to discuss the pros and cons — but mostly cons — of ideology. Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn at [email protected]

Glenn sits down with the hosts of the Mormons on Mushrooms podcast, Doug, Shelise, and Mike, to discuss Ayahuasca, Joseph Smith, Psychics, Mike’s recent experience with Boofo (DMT from crystalized Toad venom), the nature of truth, and much much more.  This is a big one.  Enjoy.   Support the podcast on Patreon here Contact Glenn […]

Glenn responds to listener Mike, who absolutely HATED the recent episode about Sam Harris, Captain Moroni, and the Fictional Title of Self-Righteous Liberty.   Support the podcast on Patreon here.

The title says it all. I hope you enjoy listening to this episode at least half as much as I enjoyed making it. Support the podcast on Patreon here.

In these chaotic times, Glenn shares a mind soothing message about the nature of reality, from Zach Bush, MD

Glenn and Tom sit down with two listeners, Reed and Andy, to discuss life after a faith crisis.  We discuss death, God, family, friends, and what it means to let it die.

Glenn sits down with Scott and Jessica to discuss the value of curiosity and the mysteries of life.

In this final segment, Christine discusses the fallout of her battle against the LDS church and the ways that ketamine treatment and psilocybin mushrooms brought her out of a pit of despair into a renewed sense of connection with her children and hope for the future.

Part 2 of this series covers the formation of TRUCE (Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education) and Christine’s efforts to create and pass legislation against significant political resistance from the church of state.

Christine Stenquist’s world turned upside down when her doctors discovered that brain tumor back in 1996.  A botched surgery and Near Death Experience was followed by 16 years of bed-ridden chronic pain.  Then she discovered the medical benefits of Cannabis.  Then she organized a group called TRUCE. Then she became a major catalyst in legalizing […]

Two years ago, on November 28, 2018, our dear friend and creative collaborator, Jake Frost, suffered cardiac arrest at the tender age of 31.  He has clawed his way back to life, and has returned to share his story and his thanks with you listeners.  It is an inspiring episode that puts many things into […]

I was recently interviewed by a high school senior for a paper he is writing about the harmful nature of religion. This is that interview.

Glenn sits down with researcher and alchemist Phoenix Aurelius to finish his discussion on the secrets of turning lead into gold — or pain into peace — or something like that.

A few more musings from your friendly neighborhood Infant.

Glenn sits down with researcher and alchemist Phoenix Aurelius to discuss the secrets of turning lead into gold — or pain into peace — or something like that. Check out Phoenix’s website here Join Patreon to support Infants on Thrones here.

A delicious mix of spooky Mormon-flavored creepiness, Infant-style.  Happy Halloween 2020.

Relax and release.  That’s all you need to know.

Glenn sits down once again with Selu “Lu” Alofipo of the Think on Your Faith podcast to discuss the danger of religion, and — more importantly — the dangerous danger of danger. Click here to take a survey on beliefs and religion.

Glenn sits down once again with Bill Reel to discuss Michael Singer’s 8-course series on the path to surrender.

John Lennon would have been 80 years old today. If you are a Beatles fan and would like to hear more episodes like this one, here is the link to The Spiritual Dimension of the Beatles

A life with God is a life without fear.  Even a fear of losing blessings because of drinking coffee, right?

Glenn sits down once again with Bill Reel to discuss Michael Singer’s 8-course series on the path to surrender. Click here to support Infants on Thrones on Patreon.

What is truth? What is fiction? Was Joseph Smith the sole author of the Book of Mormon? Was it Solomon Spaulding? Glenn and Randy talk with professor Craig Criddle about Book of Mormon authorship.

What does it mean to be (or not to be) “woke” for two parallel path-plodding podcasters who used to be part of a patriarchal system that simply shall not be named, ever! (pssst… it rhymes with “shmormonism”).

What is truth? What is fiction? Was Joseph Smith the sole author of the Book of Mormon? Was it Solomon Spaulding? Glenn and Randy talk with historian John Hamer about Book of Mormon authorship.

What is truth? What is fiction?  Is there any evidence — or at the very least, pure rational logic — for the Book of Mormon as truth instead of fiction?  If only there were some kind of Indiana Jones for Book of Mormon artifacts and geography.  Wink wink.

One of my favorite pieces of Mormon satire, the RM who doesn’t know what that R really means.

How can you really know what you know?  What is your degree of confidence in the beliefs that you hold? Glenn is interviewed by Street Epistemologist Dali on his YouTube show “Vanilla SE.”  Follow the link here to find Dali’s channel on YouTube. Enjoy!

Glenn will be interviewed for his new book “Bathing with God” by Street Epistemologist Dali on his YouTube channel JugglingLessons. Watch it live on September 1st at 1pm PST, or just go check it out afterwards. In the meantime, check out a few of the questions that Dali posed to Glenn and to… Quad???

Stephen Carter from Sunstone interviews Glenn about his new book, “Bathing with God.”   “Bathing with God” can be purchased here Listen to the Bathing with God podcast here

Former football player turned artist turned ex-artist turned ex-Mormon podcaster — meet Selu Alofipo, and raise your consciousness.  Whatever that is.

What is the most important thing ever? This is, of course.

Can both Karma and Justice co-exist in the mind of an ex-mormon podcasting coffee-drinking betrayal (of sorts)? We wrap up this 8-part series with a funny experience from Tom.

Originally published in July 2015, the performs and smacks down Glenn’s goofy screenplay.

Originally published in July 2015, the performs and smacks down Glenn’s goofy screenplay.

What does astrology have to teach us about justice and karma? Glenn sits down with astrologer Eric Meyers to discuss.

One of our best episodes ever.  First published in July 2014, this may be the very first word-for-word, pick-it-apart Infant Smackdown. In 1976, our favorite LDS Apostle, Boyd K. Packer gave a talk in priesthood session “To Young Men Only” that was not subsequently published in the Ensign the following month, nor can it be […]

Filmmaker Brent Bokovoy wants to make a movie about Boyd K. Packer’s infamous “Little Factories” talk. Today Glenn sits down with Brent to discuss his film. We also talk about Mark E Petersen’s steps to avoiding masturbation, whether or not we actually “choose” what we believe, and a whole bunch of other goodies. Enjoy! Check […]

How much of a problem is the Problem of Evil when it comes to justice and karma? How much do these views about the world impact our experience of the world?

Kristy Johnson has a few things to say about justice, karma and forgiveness.

Is the world completely devoid of justice? At least one listener thinks so. What can we learn about justice and karma from Kristy Johnson’s 2019 documentary No Crime in Sin?

Pushing pause on the Justice and Karma series to reflect on what is currently going on in the world that we are each a significantly insignificant piece of.   Love is Still the Answer (Jason Mraz) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc2BK09eKhk

Glenn and Tom discuss Neorosurgeon Eben Alexander’s Near Death Experience a way to better understand justice and karma.

Tom really hates it when bad people get away with doing bad things. It almost makes him wish there was an afterlife, just so the bad guys can be punished. But what about Karma? Is there any evidence for reincarnation — like maybe children who remember previous lives? What about near death experiences — is […]

Tom just hates it when good things happen to bad people — maybe you can relate.  Will there ever be justice in this life?  What about the idea of Karma?  Rank McBaddon, Faith Detective, is on the case.

Glenn, John, Bob, Randy and Mike discuss finish up this 5-part series on McConkie’s 7 Deadly Heresies.  We may not have covered everything perfectly.  But good news.  We don’t have to be perfect.  Pass it on.

Glenn, John, Bob, Randy and Mike discuss #5 and #6 of McConkie’s deadly heresies.  Namely, that people can progress from kingdom to kingdom in the eternities (#5) and that Adam is our God, the father of our spiritual and physical bodies, who traveled to earth from another planet (#6.)  It’s a fun discussion that also […]

Have you ever thought that getting married/sealed in the temple guarantees your salvation?  WRONG!  What about the thought that baptisms for the dead give sinners a second chance at redemption?  WRONG AGAIN!  Don’t get complacent!  Don’t start thinking you are doing just fine!!  Don’t ever ever ever ever think that you don’t need the CHURCH […]

Originally published April 22, 2018. Mike Tannehill makes his triumphant return to defend Bruce R. McConkie as Glenn, John, and Bob’s take on evolution; the 2nd of McConkie’s 7 Deadly Heresies.

How deadly can a heresy be?  Listen in as Glenn, John, Bob, and Randy smack down some Bruce R. McConkie and figure it all out.  So that you don’t have to. The BYU Speeches (highly amended) transcript is here: https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/bruce-r-mcconkie_seven-deadly-heresies/ The un-amended audio can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMLH6csjYDQ And you can sign up to support […]

The last frock in the Week of Tannehill series, this was originally published in March 2014.  Mike Tannehill joins us once again for this unofficial follow-up to The Unintentional Racist to discuss the recent LDS.com essay on Noah’s Ark with Randy, Scott, Jake, Erica, and Glenn. Here is the link to the Meridian article in […]

Mike Tannehill (love him or hate him) is fighting the good fight against the Mormon church. Or at least against the influence of those liberal academic types trying to re-write church history — more specifically those authors of the recent essay Race and the Priesthood on LDS.org who would have us believe that church doctrine […]

Bob, Jake, Glenn, and Matt talk to Mike Tannehill about the devil — and evil – and his whole devilish role in the Plan of Salvation — and a whole bunch of other stuff.  This episode was originally published in Oct 2014.

What does the “latter day” in Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints actually mean?  When is the end of the world coming and what are the signs that it is near? This was the 14th episode of Infants on Thrones, originally published in April 2013, and it is a doozy.

Glenn takes you back to the 4th episode of Infants on Thrones, originally published in September 2012.  It is a surprisingly good Radio Lab styled episode, centering on the narrative structure of “loss and restoration” found both in and out of the Mormon church.  Mike Tannehill also provides some criteria by which one may determine […]

What is the Abrahamic covenant and why is it so important to Mormons like Mike Tannehill?  For listeners who do not know Mike Tannehill, get ready.  He’s making a return to the podcast soon.  So think of “The Week of Tannehill” as a year supply of sorts, preparing for the end times, this time with […]

Tom, Randy, and Matt break down and discuss what a Netflix docu-series about sex, murder, and cats teaches about humanity and the problem of evil.

April 2020 General Conference Review, Part 1. Matt and Tom breakdown the General Conference of the Apocalypse. They provide the analysis that only these infants can about what the Lord’s anointed have to tell His people during the most significant event effecting health, psychology, and finances of God’s people. They smackdown the new Proclamation and […]

What is true?

Two missionary stories.  One totally true.  The other mostly true.  Both incredibly foolish.  Enjoy.

That is the question?

Two excerpts from a book in progress for your listening pleasure during this time of social distancing.

Another blast from the past.  All four of the Church House Rock parodies together in one episode.  Enjoy,

A blast from the past semi-musical, semi-dramatic recreation of John Dehlin’s pre-excommunication interview featuring Jake Frost, Matt Long, John Hamer and Glenn Ostlund. Enjoy.

Brother Jake flexes his brilliant satirical muscles while comparing a Mormon faith crisis to a Satanic faith crisis in these 4 mini episodes, complete in one episode for the very first time.

Do you love your dark thoughts?  What does that even mean?  Listen in to see what you think.

What was that thing that Joseph Smith taught about intelligences again? Glenn sits down with Christopher to discuss. Fill out the Beliefs Survey here.

Glenn sits down with self-acknowledged Mormon Mystic Bryce Haymond to discuss the one-ness of all things.   Check out more from Bryce at Thy Mind O Man

Glenn and Tom (sorta) sit down once again with Lars Neilson to discuss the fall out from last month’s Letter to the IRS Director, and specifically discuss the most recent Washington Post article detailing the fall-out between Lars and his twin brother David, the whistleblower who did not want this information to go public.  We […]

Mormon doctrine set to music.  A throwback episode to March 2015.  Enjoy!

Glenn sits down with Anthony Magnabosco and a few podcast listeners who joined us live to talk about Street Epistemology, and God, and Truth, and Language, and burning bosoms and stupors of thought and other Mormon ways of verifying belief. Help Anthony meet his GoFundMe goal Support Infants on Thrones on Patreon

This is part 2 of Anthony Magnabosco’s SE conversation with two mormon missionaries.   Click here to support Anthony’s GoFundMe to attend General Conference in Salt lake City, Utah.

What would you say if you were a Mormon Missionary and you were approached by a well spoken, respectful atheist asking you how you came to be so certain about the Truth of Mormonism?   Street Epistemologist Anthony Magnabosco did this very thing with two Mormon Missionaries. Spoiler alert: he didn’t accept their free picture […]

What is real? What is true? And who has the advantage when it comes to survival of the fittest: those who see it like it really is, or those who don’t? Today Glenn does some Mormon-focused riffing on Donald Hoffman’s 2015 Ted Talk “Do we See Reality as it is?”  

Glenn sits down with award winning author and Life Coach Alan Cohen to discuss spirituality vs. religion, reclaiming the concept of God, the relationship between love and fear, and the book A Course in Miracles Made Easy. Find out more about Alan Cohen here: https://www.alancohen.com   Please come support Infants on Thrones on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Infants […]

Has the Mormon Church been hiding billions of dollars in some kind of illegal tax shelter?  Glenn and Tom sit down with Lars Nielsen, author of the Letter to the IRS Director. Links referenced in our discussion: The 74-page Letter to the IRS Director: https://www.scribd.com/document/439385879/Letter-to-an-IRS-Director A 7-minute video introduction: https://youtu.be/DXOWRN19i-4 A 77-minute full video exposé: https://youtu.be/KDlFZF3RyhE Religion Unplugged […]

If your thoughts create your emotions, can you control your thoughts to create the kind of emotions that you really want to feel?  And if a conman (or woman) tells you they are conning you, are they really actually conning you?

Matt and Tom discuss parenting beyond mormonism. What they have learned, what they know, and what they don’t know.

What would you do if you were diagnosed with cancer and given only a few more weeks to live?  Would you travel the world and experience as many things as you could before it was too late?  What if the joy that you experienced during those travels actually healed you? Sara Emmitt is a singer, […]

So if 90% of our 70,000 daily thoughts are repeats from the previous day — if our bodies create repetitive habits over time, and reinforces those habits unconsciously over and over and over again, how exactly can we change?  Today’s episode explores Dr. Joe Dispenza’s advice.

How many throughts do you typically think on any given day?  600-700 maybe?  6000-7000 maybe? Nope.  It’s 60,000 to 70,000 thoughts per day.  And 90% of those are thoughts that you are repeating from the previous day.  And 50% percent of your memories are false. What does that mean for the way you live your […]

Glenn and Tom discuss the movie Joker (spoiler alert — we talk about spoilers) and make the ever-so-obvious connections to Joseph Smith and the Mormon church.  Enjoy!

Matt gives us minisode by sharing a parable loaded with metaphors.

Matt and Kristin talk with Tom about methods they’ve learned about how to best communicate and connect with others.

What if Joseph Smith were teaching his teachings today?  Maybe they’d sound a little bit like Abraham Hicks. The eternal nature of intelligences.  The eternal progression of man.  The idea that as man is god once was and as god is man may become.   Spiritual gifts, the power of faith, that as a man […]

Glenn and Tom sit down with Kristy Johnson to discuss her documentary “No Crime in Sin,” which tells the story of Kristy’s sexual abuse at the hands of her CES Leader and BYU Teacher father; how the Mormon church swept it all under the rug; how Kristy and two of her siblings confronted their father 30 […]

Glenn, Tom, and Matt are joined by 7 or 8 listeners to discuss guilt and empathy.

What is Guilt?  What is Shame?  What is Empathy?  How do all of these things affect us?  It’s time to evaluate where we stand. This episode includes 30 min of new material and a throwback to IOT’s 2nd episode: Guilt, a panel discussion between Tom, Randy, Bob, Matt, and Glenn that was originally published on […]

Seven years.  Six Hundred-Fifty-plus episodes.  Six Million-plus downloads.  Four Million-plus listeners.  Let’s pause to celebrate what we have done and listen back to some of the great contributions from Randy, Scott, Bob, Matt, Tom, Glenn, John, Jake, Alison, and Heather.  Enjoy!

Another Jeremy Goff smackdown, and another exemplary satirically celestial appearance of the one and only (if only that were accchttually true…) Stephen Erastus Knudsen III — the mold from which Jeremy Goff has been cut.  Enjoy!

What do Brigham Young and Charles Manson have in common? All you need is love — AKA shedding a wicked person’s blood so that they can pay for their sins and be exalted in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom. Cuz that is what Jesus REALLY meant when he said “love your neighbor as […]

What if the emotions from Pixar’s “Inside Out” got together in a Mormon-formed brain that experienced a faith crisis? Which emotion dominates in a pre, mid, or post-faith crisis mind? Those were the questions we playfully explored in our Sunstone panel on Aug 1, 2015 at the University of Utah. Listen in as Glenn narrates […]

Glenn reads (and responds to) a Jeremy Goff blog post about why people leave THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, and then revisits a classic Infants’ panel discussion “50 Ways To Leave the Church” with Tom, Randy, Jake, and John.  Enjoy.

When is murder not actually murder?  Jeremy Goff sets the record straight once again.  You just gotta hear it to believe it.

Can sarcasm and humor help heal the wounds of a faith crisis?  Those are the questions considered in today’s episode as Glenn is interviewed by author and life coach Wendi Jensen for her group Thriving After Mormonism. [email protected] www.thrivingaftermormonism.com

Three episodes in one.  First, Glenn and Tom reflect on their missions and share how their patriarchal blessings impacted the course of their lives.  Then you get to hear a previously unpublished episode from 9 years ago that goes into more detail about their mormon missions.  And finally, the story of a one time streaking […]

What would Joseph Smith say if he were to offer some kind of apology today?  Glenn takes a stab at imagining such an apology.  Tom and Brady take a stab at stabbing that stab.  Sorry if that sounds like way too much stabbing.  Blame it on the angel with the flaming sword.

Glenn and Tom are joined by Brady Bluhm to have another condescending conversation with Quad (the almighty).

Tom, Randy, and Heather discuss some recent Mormon-news topics and revisit the infamous policy reversal with some new information.

Glenn and Tom sit down with  Street Epistemologist extraordinaire Anthony Magnabosco to talk with Renee Cordeschi about her exit from the Jehovah’s Witness cult.  Keep track of any the Mormon parallels.  There will be a quiz (only 144,000 people will pass).

Glenn recently discovered that he can actually talk to Quad, and that Quad will talk back. Forefront on his mind was whether or not there is some kind of eternal justice in this world or beyond. Tom Perry joins in for the smackdown. It’s a good one. Enjoy.   P.S. What questions would you like […]

Glenn shares his thoughts on the Ronald E. Poelman talk/talks from 1984 and drops some Infant gen conf goodies from the past

What happens when the Lord™ draws a firm line in the sand (in November 2015) and then kinda sorta undraws it 3 1/2 years later? Glenn, Heather, and Tom discuss. With maybe a brief special visit from a certain Brother Jake.  Enjoy.

I talked with my TBM Uncle (a former Bishop/Stake President/Mission President) a few days ago about Infants on Thrones.  Wow, what an experience!  I share it with you in today’s sharing time, and re-published a long lost IOT episode between myself (Glenn), Randy, Rock Waterman, and Andrea Staats (aka “Eliza R Snitch”).  Enjoy!

Carole explains the habits of mind in the development of personality and how to avoid type-casting and pigeonholing when studying the Enneagram personality types.

Today Glenn sits down with Carole Whittaker, a teacher on the Enneagram (which is a fascinating tool for personality typing).  Carole experienced a crisis of faith from her Catholic upbringing while she earned a PhD in Chemistry and began seeing that life outside her cultural faith bubble was different that what she had previously believed. […]

What if you dedicated your life to a certain direction.  You put all your eggs in one basket,  and then came to the stark realization that not only is the basket not really a basket, but maybe your eggs aren’t even really eggs? Sound familiar at all? Luke Norsworthy is a Christian Pastor who experienced […]

Glenn continues his informal probings into the informal questions raised in this informal series on the meaning of life.  This time with Micah Nickolaisen.  Enjoy.

What is “well being?” What (if anything) does that have to do with a belief in God? Why is Jordan Peterson so dang slippery for Tom? Glenn and Tom sit down with Bill Reel and a few other guests to discuss the main issues raised by Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson in their Aug 2018 […]

What do you do when you discover the man behind the curtain? Do you walk away and trash it all because of the deception? Or do you keep pulling those levers and put on a really great show in the name of something better? Today’s guest is Anthony D Miller, who talks about his faith […]

This is part 2 of my conversation with Tami. Here is a link to Tami’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Space-Me-Mormon-adoption/dp/1718065027/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1548634445&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=making+room+for+me+tami+whiting

How can you hold on to those things that are most important while discarding the things that harm you? Today Glenn sits down with long time friend Tami Whiting to discuss her INCREDIBLE book “Making Space for Me.” Tami lived a very rough life, found community in unexpected places, and then eventually had to walk […]

Today Glenn is joined by Brady, Tom, and a small gaggle of live virtual audience members to discuss the intersection between Plato’s idea of “The Lie of the Soul,” Anil Seth’s TED Talk on the way our brains hallucinate reality, and video blogger Matt Christiansen’s response to the recent outrage in Washington DC over a […]

What is the difference between justice and injustice? What is the difference between actively disrupting the status quo and passively maintaining peace and order? In commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr Day, Glenn shares with you his thoughts on the powerful and impactful messages in the Letter from Birmingham Jail; how it has influenced key […]

In part two, Brady explains how he rediscovered and redefined “God.” Is suffering really the best teacher? What is the difference between Lying and Lies? This 2-part interview with Brady is the 2nd installment of IOT’s ongoing “Meaning of Life” series. Enjoy!

He was the voice of Christopher Robin from the Winnie the Pooh movies, the blind kid from Dumb and Dumber, and a devoted believing Mormon. Now that is all in the past. What is in the “NOW” is a very interesting and profound view on The Meaning of Life. This 2-part interview with Brady is […]

Glenn sits down with Eric (aka “Weird Alma”) to discuss his new parody song “Temple Changes” in response to (duh) the recent LDS temple changes by the recent ex-Mormon church. Check out more Weird Alma parodies at his Website: https://weirdalma.bandcamp.com/track/temple-changes

Glenn and Matt are joined by Colton and Brad to talk about the meaning of life.

A few weeks ago, Christa posted on Facebook about a very unfortunate experience she had with a Judge while being selected to Jury Duty. The post went viral, and she is back on IOT to tell the story, and to talk about the implications of that experience as viewed through the lens of American history, […]

Anthony Magnabosco joins us once again to review a conversation he once had with a Mormon couple about their beliefs. Anthony’s Conversation with the Mormon Couple: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh9IYjRYBx4&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2qSnBJWSSDNBHyCjhLq8cLY-mHS9HQCPjSSga3KU1CWYier6rXBVgUv9U Jake’s Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/gojakego Jonathan Haidt’s referenced Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MYsx6WArKY&t=308s

Our beloved “Brother Jake” suffered a sudden, serious cardiac event on November 28 and remains in intensive care. This episode contains a few of Jake’s many wonderful contributions to this project. His family also created a Go Fund Me page to raising money for his recovery so he can get back to being the devoted […]

Dr. Colton Miller returns to Infants on Thrones to walk Tom and Matt through his professional reactions to last week’s episode on shame. Most important takeaway: shame is what happens when a person confuses doing a bad thing with BEING a bad person. Listen to hear more.

Today’s essay comes from Jack. Vote for Jacks essay here: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=wqe1m

Today’s listener essay comes from Ron. Vote for Ron’s essay here: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=ubteo

Today’s essay comes from James: Vote for James’ essay here: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=so1oz

Bill Reel talks to Glenn and Tom about what it was like to be excommunicated last night in St. George, Utah. He also teases some things that might be coming next. Will we get another Excommunication sing-a-long from this? Stay tuned…

Today’s essay comes from Nicole. Vote for Nicole’s essay here: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=7p6ay

Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall for a 2-hour discussion between a non-believer and his TBM Elder’s Quorum leader? If so, congratulations, because Jim gives you just that in today’s episode (beware the fly paper and don’t complain about the sound quality — this is how flies actually hear things). […]

What is the best way to teach your Mormon daughters that they are not second class citizens to the boys? Fred shares his experience in today’s listener essay. Vote for Fred’s essay here: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=xq8f3

Once upon a time, a Mormon scientist worked at the Pentagon. They nicknamed him Dr. Weird Science. He was later stationed in Japan for the US Air Force, where he investigated and invested in the most cutting edge scientific research in Asia. He listened to a recent episode of Infants on Thrones. He has a […]

Is the Mormon church like the wonderful land of Oz? Listen to what Lincoln has to say (and sing) about that. Vote for Lincoln’s essay here: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=e10qh

What’s it like to be adopted through LDS adoption services? Would you track down your bio mother? What things would you want to tell her if you did? Paul tells what it was like for him. Vote for Paul’s essay here: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=atr7x

What do children think about things that make them “unworthy?” This singer-songwriter listener essay submission from Eric is both heartbreaking and fantastic. Take a listen. Vote for Eric’s essay here: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=fvayl

She just wants to be like Jesus, but the Mormon church and Utah culture are standing in her way. Vote for Cristina’s essay here: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=cyune

Is there virtue in suffering? Do you really need the darkness to appreciate the light at the end of the tunnel? Dave shares his experience in today’s listener essay. Vote for Dave’s essay here: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=zwl75

What does George Orwell’s “1984” have to do with the church and the country in 2018? Vote for Matthew’s essay here: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=x6art

Matt is joined by Tom and Kristin to apologize for his treatment of Sam Young and to talk about Shame.

How hard is it to live a double life for the sake of your loved ones? Troy shares his experience in today’s listener essay, “The Mask.” Vote for Troy’s essay here: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=iomeo

Linda explains her struggles with the Mormon church, what it was that finally made her leave, and what that journey has now lead her to. Vote for Linda’s essay here: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=pjtky

This is our first official singer songwriter submission. It is from Chris. We desire all to receive it. Vote for this essay here: https://proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=pvdud

What does life look like for you? For Bryan, it is dark. It is 3-6-8. Three decades suffering from depression and anxiety. Six times being hospitalized for mental health issues. Eight times being just the pull of a trigger or release of a railing away from ending his life. In today’s listener essay, Bryan bravely […]

Today’s essay is from Sarah. How do you define new boundaries when you leave the Mormon church, become a 7 on the Dawkin’s scale, and begin exploring new sexual relationships? Vote for Sarah’s essay here: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=k8wwd

Do beliefs impact our biology? What about a rejection of those beliefs? Glenn sits down with Chelsea to talk about belief, culture, social media, the Mormon “cult” (her word, not mine), and both the social and biological costs of walking away from your “tribe.”

It’s been three years. And this episode just dropped off iTunes. So it’s time to put it back where it belongs. And you also get a bonus smackdown of Jeremy Goff. More like that on Patreon. Please join here to support Infants on Thrones on Patreon.

Glenn and Tom sit down with licensed Psychologist Colton Miller to discuss the psychological impact of Mormonism. Access the new listener feedback survey here.

It’s time, once again, for an Infant General Conference parody episode.

What is it like to actually do Street Epistemology?  Glenn is joined by Randy, Delany, and Jimmy to talk to Street Epistemologists Reid Nicewonder and Anthony Magnabosco.  Their YouTube videos can be found below: Anthony Magnabosco’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/magnabosco210 Cordial Curiosity (Reid Nicewonder’s YouTube Channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiWKxPMKUBFjN3Ny_VxpkYw

Tom and Matt are joined by Jake and Glenn to reflect on our recent Sam Young interview and the polarizing impact it had on all of us.

What happens when a Street Epistemologist sits down to atheist-convert two Mormon Missionaries who have sat down to Mormon-convert him?  It’s a wild wacky panel discussion full of laughs and groans and cognitive distortions of all shapes and sizes.  Enjoy.

Glenn and Tom sit down (once again…) with Melissa Leilani Larson to discuss the movie Jane and Emma, showing in select theaters in Utah Oct 12-14, 2018.  Go see it if you can! Lindsay Hanson Park also provides a review of the film, and Glenn includes two bonus easter eggs: 1) an interview with Mel […]

What is the difference between Mormon culture and “the gospel?”  You don’t have to be anti-mormon-crusader-extraordinaire Jeremy Goff or privately censured General Authority Ronald E. Poelman to see there is a distinction between the culture and the gospel.  Unless of course you remove the biasing blinders from your eyes and finally see that there really […]

What is relativism?  Is it okay for anyone to believe anything that they want?  Where do you draw the line between what is okay to critique and what is off limits?  Today Glenn, Matt, Tom, Delany, and Chelsea discuss RELATIVISM.

Excommunication is all about love, right?  Listen in as Glenn, Tom, Matt, Delany Darko, and Chelsea Shields smack down a video blog from Anti-Mormon Crusader Extraordinaire, Jeremy Goff.

What is the socratic method?  How can it be used effectively in conversations with people who believe things differently than you do?   Glenn is joined by Brother Jake, Delany Darco, and Brady Bluhn to discuss part 3 of Peter Boghossian’s “A Manual for Creating Atheists.”

What is faith?  How is it different from hope?  What is an atheist?  How is that different from an agnostic?  Glenn is joined by Delany Darco and Tom Perry to discuss part 2 of Peter Boghossian’s “A Manual for Creating Atheists.”

Were you ever a Missionary for the Mormon church?  Did you ever become an Atheist?  Have you ever wanted to become a Missionary for Atheism and talk people out of their faith?  Have you ever wondered what an Atheist Missionary discussion handbook would look like?  Well, look no more.  Today Glenn, Tom, Heather, Randy, and […]

Glenn sits down with fellow sorta-Mormon podcaster Bill Reel to talk about podcasting, the reasons why he eventually left the church, and what he now thinks about Life, the Universe, and God

Last week, Infants on Thrones started the process of smacking down (or, probably “smacking-up” really) Peter Boghossian’s important and provocative book “A Manual for Creating Atheists.”  We are approaching this in a different way than we have in the past, and you are invited to join us for the sausage-making “behind the scenes” elements of this journey. […]

Did you know that if you take the sacrament with your left hand, it doesn’t really count?  Or that it is disrespectful for the first counselor to sit anywhere but on the right side of the Bishop/President?  Or that using nicknames like “Liz” instead of the full and proper “Elizabeth” is pretty much an abomination […]

Bob is joined by Logan to review the documentary Church & State about the legalization of gay marriage in Utah. They also come up with the definitive top 5-ish list of Mormon documentaries.   If you want to hear more from Bob and Logan, check out their podcast at PracticallyCulture.com or subscribe via Apple Podcasts […]

Glenn and Bob are joined by one-time Mormon Stories Europe host Claudia Fox Reppen to discuss our meandering parallel journeys navigating politics, religion, and all things in between.

The four noble truths.  The eightfold path.  The dangers of dogmatism.  The suffering caused by over-attachment to an impermanent world.  This is the 2nd half of Glenn’s interview with Noah Rasheta, of the Secular Buddhism podcast, about his new book “No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners.”

Want to find peace even in the face of suffering?  Noah did.  Listen in as Glenn interviews Noah Rasheta, of the Secular Buddhism podcast, about his new book “No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners.”

Glenn reads two more entries from his 1991 Mormon Missionary dream log, and also responds to an excellent listener comment providing Jungian analysis to a dream from part 2 of this series.  When is a phallic symbol more than just a phallic symbol?  Tune in to find out.

Glenn is joined by Bob and Doug to review the HBO Documentary Believer.

What happens when two mormon missionaries unknowingly knock on Matt Long’s door?  This episode.  That’s what.

Glenn reads more entires from the missionary dream log that he kept as a Mormon Missionary from 1991-1993.

Glenn, John, Bob, Randy and Mike discuss finish up this 5-part series on McConkie’s 7 Deadly Heresies.  We may not have covered everything perfectly.  But good news.  We don’t have to be perfect.  Pass it on.

Glenn, John, Bob, Randy and Mike discuss #5 and #6 of McConkie’s deadly heresies.  Namely, that people can progress from kingdom to kingdom in the eternities (#5) and that Adam is our God, the father of our spiritual and physical bodies, who traveled to earth from another planet (#6.)  It’s a fun discussion that also […]

Glenn reads two entires from the missionary dream log that he kept as a Mormon Missionary from 1991-1993.

Glenn, Tom, Bob, and Jake finish (for now…) their discussion of the infamous January 2017 “Truth” debate between Jordan Peterson and Sam Harris.

What is truth?  Is there a difference between truth and fact?  And where can real truth be found after rejecting the one-time source of One-True-Truth that is the Mormon Church?  Glenn, Tom, Bob, and Jake discuss the infamous January 2017 “Truth” debate between Jordan Peterson and Sam Harris.

Glenn, Tom and Randy sit down with Christian Braithwaite, author of “Open Letter to Mormonism” and 2nd place winner in the most recent Listener Essay contest to discuss his essay, how to deal with tragedies like death after rejecting a belief in an afterlife, and how to define things like “truth.”  We also talk with […]

Glenn is joined by two never-mo’s, Tim Bohen and Stephen Johnson of The Steady Trade Podcast, to begin smacking down the missionary discussions that Glenn used as a missionary back in the early 1990’s.

Tom sits down with Jordan and Katie to talk about losing their teenage daughter Sabrina to suicide. Links: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org Trevor Project (LGBTQ) 1-866-488-7386 Text “Trevor” to 1-202-304-1200 Utah County Crisis Line: 1-801-691-5433 (LIFE) University Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI) 1-801-583-2500 Unequally yoked podcast: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jordan-needles/unequally-yoked

Glenn continues the next few chapters in his “Shadow the Lamanite” book project.  Please take a few minutes to fill out the following survey to provide feedback and to sign up if you would like to be part of a working group on this project. https://proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=wwjmb

Glenn announces the winners of the May 2018 Listener Essay contest and then breathes new life into six fantastic Infant minisodes of the past.

Glenn and Randy finish their conversation with Chris Matheson about his new book, The Trouble with God, where the God of the Old Testament takes a satitical stroll through The Book of Mormon.

Glenn and Randy sit down with Chris Matheson, author of “The Story of God: A Biblical Story of Love (and Hate)” and its follow-up “The Trouble with God: A Divine Comedy about Judgment (and Misjudgment).  In this episode, we discuss his general interest in religion, his career in film starting as co-creator of Bill & […]

Yesterday, on May 17 2018, Jonathan Streeter leveraged news of a real meeting between leaders of the Mormon church and  the NAACP to create a fake apology from the Mormon Church regarding its history of institutional racism.  Zandra Vranes, from Sistas in Zion, responded to this hoax on a live stream FB video that was […]

Today’s listener essay comes from Christian.  He titled it “An Open Letter to Mormonism.”  We desire all to receive it. This is the final entry (#10) in the May 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.

Today’s listener essay comes from Bryan.  He titled it “A Believing Jack-Mormon.”  We desire all to receive it. This is #9 in the May 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.    

Today’s listener essay comes from Lisa.  She titled it “A Log on the Fire.”  We desire all to receive it. This is #8 in the May 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.

Today’s listener essay comes from Jim.  He titled it “Priesthood Power.”  We desire all to receive it. This is #7 in the May 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.

Today’s listener essay comes from Alice.  She titled it “For Then We Saw through a Hat Darkly.”  We desire all to receive it. This is #6 in the May 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.

Today’s listener essay comes from Melissa.  She titled it “Letter to my Dead Grandmother.”  We desire all to receive it. This is #5 in the May 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.    

Today’s listener essay comes from Brock.  He titled it “Russia Made Me Do It” (and trust me — it’s not what you think).  We desire all to receive it. This is #4 in the May 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.

Today’s listener essay comes from Tim.  He titled it “Religion Nevermo(re).”  We desire all to receive it. This is #3 in the May 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.    

Today’s listener essay comes from Tyler.  He titled it “A Newel Hope.”  We desire all to receive it. This is #2 in the May 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.  

Today’s listener essay comes from Emily.  She titled it “Of Mormons and Democrats.”  We desire all to receive it. This is #1 in the May 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.

What does it mean to be remarkable?  Randy and Glenn sit down with Liz, reigning champion of our February 2018 Listener Essay contest, to talk about what it is like to search for meaning in life after leaving the Mormon church.

Randy and Glenn sit down with Pete Nixon, 3rd place winner of the last essay contest, to talk about Pete’s experience with families and homeschooling and leaving the Mormon church.

Delany has an angel on one shoulder and a devil on another.  You’ll never guess who they actually are.  Glenn and Tom sit down to talk with former Listener Essay Contest winner Delany Darco to talk about life, love, fiction, mixed faith marriages, Brigham Young, cats, Blood Atonement, Dystopian futures, atheism, humanism, Sam Harris, and a bunch of other stuff.  And it is all incredibly delightful. Here is where you will find Delaney’s blog: https://delaneydarco.wordpress.com

Have you ever thought that getting married/sealed in the temple guarantees your salvation?  WRONG!  What about the thought that baptisms for the dead give sinners a second chance at redemption?  WRONG AGAIN!  Don’t get complacent!  Don’t start thinking you are doing just fine!!  Don’t ever ever ever ever think that you don’t need the CHURCH or the BIG AND IMPORTANT leaders (ever)!  Listen in as Glenn, John, Randy, Bob, and special guest Mike Tannehill smack down the 3rd and 4th most deadly of heresies as outlined with absolute certainty by an infallible apostle of Jesus Christ.  (Irony?  Hyperbole? Facetiousness?  Where???)

Glenn shares some songs he wrote back in 2009 and asks listeners, “hey, any fellow songwriters interested in doing a songwriting contest on Infants on Thrones?”  Seriously.  He really asks that.  Enjoy. A longer version of this episode with additional content can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/18422808

It was up for a few days, then taken down and tweaked.  Now it is back – April 2018 Infant General Conference Take 2.  Enjoy.

Mike Tannehill makes his triumphant return to defend Bruce R. McConkie as Glenn, John, and Bob’s take on evolution; the 2nd of McConkie’s 7 Deadly Heresies.

The last frock in the Week of Tannehill series, this was originally published in March 2014.  Mike Tannehill joins us once again for this unofficial follow-up to The Unintentional Racist to discuss the recent LDS.com essay on Noah’s Ark with Randy, Scott, Jake, Erica, and Glenn. Here is the link to the Meridian article in defense of Noah’s Ark. And here is the LDS.org essay Noah.

Mike Tannehill (love him or hate him) is fighting the good fight against the Mormon church. Or at least against the influence of those liberal academic types trying to re-write church history — more specifically those authors of the recent essay Race and the Priesthood on LDS.org who would have us believe that church doctrine is nothing more than the “theories” of racist men influenced by a racist time who simply could not call down a revelation from God until 1978. Listen in as Mike explains how he remains True to the Faith. When the enemy assaileth, shall he shirk or shun the fight? NO!!!

Bob, Jake, Glenn, and Matt talk to Mike Tannehill about the devil — and evil – and his whole develish role in the Plan of Salvation — and a whole bunch of other stuff.  This episode was originally published in Oct 2014.

What does the “latter day” in Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints actually mean?  When is the end of the world coming and what are the signs that it is near? This was the 14th episode of Infants on Thrones, originally published in April 2013, and it is a doozy.

Glenn takes you back to the 4th episode of Infants on Thrones, originally published in September 2012.  It is a surprisingly good Radio Lab styled episode, centering on the narrative structure of “loss and restoration” found both in and out of the Mormon church.  Mike Tannehill also provides some criteria by which one may determine if a church is in apostasy.  (Be careful Mike.  This was recorded pre-essays on LDS.com, buddy!)

What is the Abrahamic covenant and why is it so important to Mormons like Mike Tannehill?  For listeners who do not know Mike Tannehill, get ready.  He’s making a return to the podcast soon.  So think of “The Week of Tannehill” as a year supply of sorts, preparing for the end times, this time with extra weevils.

Why did Nephi really chop of Laban’s head?  (But seriously…)

Police: Ex-Mormon official asked to see woman’s breasts Video of McKenna Denson’s Press Conference The lawsuit documents Mormon Happy Hour podcast interview with Crystal https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900013796/lds-church-says-a-second-missionary-made-sexual-abuse-allegation-against-former-mtc-president.html http://kutv.com/news/local/exclusive-the-woman-at-the-center-of-the-mtc-abuse-scandal-shares-her-story http://kutv.com/news/local/exclusive-documents-reveal-how-the-lds-church-responded-to-mtc-sex-scandal https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2018/04/04/a-woman-was-shocked-to-see-her-name-in-a-mormon-church-compiled-dossier-which-she-says-was-designed-to-discredit-her-birth-mother/ https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/04/05/woman-sues-the-lds-church-for-what-she-says-was-abuse-by-missionary-training-center-president/ https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2018/03/26/mormon-leaders-update-rules-to-allow-adults-in-the-room-for-interviews-with-children-women/  

Matt talks about healthy stuff with Paige Smathers, from the Nutrition Matters podcast.  Real Words of Wisdom.  Honest.   https://www.positive-nutrition.com/podcast

What if the spirit of Moroni told the spirit of Joseph Smith to tell the spirit of Glenn to peep into his stones and re-translate the Book of Mormon from the perspective of a newly revealed Book of Mormon character named Shadow the Lamanite? (Zelph’s cousin, three-times removed)  Would you maybe possibly get a whole ‘nother testament of Jesus Christ?  Listen in and find out. Plus, a special Easter/April Fools Day extended Easter Egg of an April Fools joke Glenn played on his mission. And what’s more, free ice cream cones for everyone who changes their Facebook status to “I am a yummy yumkin” just for today.  Try it and see.

Glenn, Matt, and Scott review a Mormon satire piece called: “The Slow-Track Program!”  We also tease the imminent return of…. wait for it…. Nah.  You’ll just have to listen. http://spirituallythinking.blogspot.com/2010/03/slow-track-program.html

“If the Mormon church won’t train their bishops on how to better detect the signs of sexual abuse, I will.” In this live presentation. Matt Long discusses the specific ways the personal priesthood interview and the LDS church policy regarding reporting abuse fail victims so often. Matt also offers specific suggestions for how to protect kids from abuse and ways to ensure kids who disclose abuse are received with love and safety. Although this presentation uses the LDS church as a framing, this topic and the principles discussed are applicable to virtually every sexual abuse situation. Parents will be given information and suggestions to protect their kids from abuse and help kids who have experienced abuse. Matt Long, former Sex Crimes Prosecutor and current criminal defense attorney will discuss laws, policies, and practices of the Mormon Church and reporting sexual abuse. The following topics are covered: – The different types of disclosures victims make and the issues surrounding different types of disclosures. – How and why he bishop interview fails victims and perpetuated abuse so often. – What are the LDS Church’s policies and practices in reporting sexual abuse -Suggestions of policy changes that must be implemented to keep kids safe while maintaining the theological and doctrinal purposes of the personal priesthood interview.

Please consider subscribing and donating: https://www.patreon.com/Infants Links: https://medium.com/@davidscoville/timeline-of-the-joseph-bishop-sexual-abuse-scandal-77f39be1ef3a https://mormonleaks.io/newsroom/2018/03/19/mormonleaks-releases-of-former-mormon-mission-president-admitting-inappropriate-interactions/ https://mormonleaks.io/newsroom/2018/03/24/statement-on-behalf-of-victim-in-joseph-l-bishop-audio/ http://kutv.com/news/local/woman-who-accused-mtc-president-of-sexual-assault-has-been-telling-her-story-for-3-decades http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/2018/03/a-response-to-the-lds-newsrooms-statement-on-sexual-abuse-in-the-mtc/ https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/03/24/woman-accusing-former-mtc-president-of-attempted-rape-in-1984-says-she-now-appreciates-mormonleaks-release-of-her-explosive-recording/

How important is it to develop a child’s identity to prevent, expose, and heal trauma? Listen in as former sex crimes prosecutor Matt Long shares his intuitive experiences on how to best protect children and help victims of abuse and trauma heal.  This was a live presentation given in Mesa, Az on Mar 14, 2018.  Check ur Facebook page for information on future “Wednesday Night Live” events.

How deadly can a heresy be?  Listen in as Glenn, John, Bob, and Randy smack down some Bruce R. McConkie and figure it all out.  So that you don’t have to. The BYU Speeches (highly amended) transcript is here: https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/bruce-r-mcconkie_seven-deadly-heresies/ The un-amended audio can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMLH6csjYDQ And you can sign up to support us on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/Infants

Glenn finishes off chapters 4 and 5 of the NEW Book of Abraham project.  This was read live and discussed with a small audience in Mesa, Arizona, in the first of what will be a regular weekly Wednesday Night Live recording session, open to the general public, from 6:30 to 8:30 on Wednesday nights.  Check the Infant’s Facebook page for details.

If you could go back and give advice to yourself right before your faith crisis, what would you say?  That is the topic covered by Scott, Matt, Glenn, and special guest Colleen Dietz from The Mormon Happy Hour Podcast.  Also, the Listener Essay contest winners are announced, and a new feature of Infants on Thrones is introduced: Wednesday Night Live.  Take a listen.

Bob joins Eiynah (an ex-Muslim) and Al (an ex-Catholic / ex-Neo-Pagan) to discuss the intersection of tech and religion. But Bob also ends up representing Mormonism for a new audience and gets to explain “basic” doctrines like resurrection, polygamy, Kolob, baptisms for the dead, and more. If you are interested in hearing more from Eiynah, check out her excellent interview with Sam Harris: https://soundcloud.com/politeconversations/episode-17-sam-harris

What does enlightenment mean for Matt Long?  What is healing?  Let’s finish up with Matt in a new and improved Personal Priesthood Interview (PPI). You can email Matt at [email protected]  

What is it like recognizing that you were part of a cult and are now playing for the other team?  No, I’m not taking about religion.  I’m talking about Matt’s experience as a sex crimes prosecutor and now as a criminal defense attorney.  Big things are brewing in Matt’s Long’s world.  You will be hearing about them soon enough, but for now, let’s catch up with Matt in a new and improved Personal Priesthood Interview (PPI).

What happens when you mix 14 listener essays with some of the best creative clips from past episodes of Infants on Thrones?  Whatever it is, I hope it makes you feel the way I am feeling about it right now.  Check it out for yourself.

Today’s listener essay comes from Nelson.  He titled it “Reasons They Stay.”  We desire all to receive it. This is #14 of 14 essays in the February 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.  

Today’s listener essay comes from Wendy.  She titled it ““How Two Mormon Tribes Colluded to get a Revelation.”  We desire all to receive it. This is #13 of 14 essays in the February 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.  

Today’s listener essay comes from Michael.  He titled it “Nihilism.”  We desire all to receive it. This is #12 of 14 essays in the February 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.  

Today’s listener essay comes from Miriam.  She titled it “Claiming Individual Worth.” This is #11 of 14 essays in the February 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.  

Knock knock.  Who’s there.  Is it I? (sorry about that, Jim) Today’s listener essay comes from Jim.  He titled it “Is it I?” This is #10 of 14 essays in the February 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.

To stay on the boat, or to get off the boat.  That is the question. Today’s listener essay comes from Paul.  He titled it “Latter-day Seafaring on the Old Ship Zion.” This is #9 of 14 essays in the February 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.

Are groups really greater than the individual sum of its parts (even with a Mormon group?) Today’s listener essay comes from Lincoln.  He titled it “Heraldry.” This is #8 of 14 essays in the February 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.

Are groups really greater than the individual sum of its parts (even with a Mormon group?) Today’s listener essay comes from Miriam.  She is calling it “My Response to Jonathan Haidt.” This is #7 of 14 essays in the February 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.

What do you do when you prepare for something incredible, but life has other plans? Today’s listener essay comes from Nate.  We titled it “Hasadiga Runaway.” This is #6 of 14 essays in the February 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones.

When your friends all say they KNOW something is true and you’re not really sure, but they expect you to say you KNOW it too, what do you do? Today’s listener essay comes from Ricky.  He titled it “Nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself” which we processed through our very own Urim and Thummim to get “Choose for Yourself.” This is #5 of 14 essays in the February 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones

How can you channel your inner Randy Snyder atheist without being a complete a-hole to believing family and friends (Delaney’s words, not mine…)?  Today’s listener essay comes from Delany.  She titled it “The Atheist and the Humanist.” This is #4 of 14 essays in the February 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones. Here is where you will find Delaney’s blog: https://delaneydarco.wordpress.com  

Remember when you used to think you were all that and a bag of chips cuz of the whole “chosen people” thing?  Today’s listener essay comes from Liz.  We are calling it “Remarkable Unremarkable Me.” This is #3 of 14 essays in the February 2018 Listener Essay Contest on Infants on Thrones

How do you maintain a relationship with religious family members once you have left religion behind?  Today’s listener essay comes from Peter.  We are calling it “Religious Family Members.”  This is 2 of 14 essays to come over the next 2 weeks on Infants on Thrones.  

Today’s listener essay comes from Leah.  We are calling it “My Super Excruciating Mormonism.”  This is 1 of 14 essays to come over the next 2 weeks on Infants on Thrones.

Tom sits down with his oldest daughter who wrote an essay for a college class titled, “The Religious Influence on my Life.” She talks and writes about the shift her life took when her father came out to her as an unbeliever.

Glenn joins forces with John Dehlin, Gina Colvin, Lindsay Hansen Park, and Jamie Hanis-Handy to discuss Spiral Dynamics, a data-based, psychological theory of how human consciousness adapts and changes. Spiral Dynamics can help us better understand the way we view religion and the way we view the world. This is a slight different version of the conversation that is being cross-published on Mormon Stories and A Thoughtful Faith. Cuz this one was edited Infant Stylz.

Randy, Glenn, John, Lindsay, and Matt conclude their discussion of Rupert Sheldrake’s 2012 “Banned Ted Talk” about the 10 dogmas of a Scientific Materialist Worldview.

What does it mean to be open-minded vs. closed-minded?  We experienced some kind of “open vs. closed” clash of ideologies when we challenged and deconstructed the dogmas of Mormonism, right?  So what do we do with that now?  And what about the accusations that some of us simply substituted the cultural dogmas of Mormonism for the cultural dogmas of Science? Listen in as Randy totally keeps his cool (eh hem…) while joining Glenn, John, Lindsay, and Matt in a discussion of Rupert Sheldrake’s 2012 “Banned Ted Talk” about the 10 dogmas of a Scientific Materialist Worldview.  And don’t miss the special easter egg parody about the press conference announcing the new LDS Prophet at the end. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKHUaNAxsTg&t=611s

Glenn has figured out who the actual anti-christ is and what “anti-christ” actually means. And it’s not what you think! Unless, of course, it is. It’s really hard to tell being as obnoxiously cryptic as I am being. Just listen. You’ll like this one. I promise.

How do you heal after an excommunication? Matt talks with Carson and Marisa Calderwood about finding healing and community through EDM music and culture.

Could a scientific mythology could bring balance to the force and peace & harmony to the galaxy? Listen in to Part 2 of this panel discussion of the book Sapiens with some responses to listener comments about “fiction” and “myth.” A source about the common characteristics of mythology: https://faculty.gcsu.edu/custom-website/mary-magoulick/defmyth.htm

Matt shares a recording that he made with his family on Christmas eve, where he discusses his recent rediscovery the value of Jesus.

Glenn and Matt discuss Jonathan Haidt’s 2014 TED talk titled “Religion, evolution, and the ecstasy of self-transcendence.” I know, I know. We had you at ecstasy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MYsx6WArKY&t=3s

Do you have something you want to say on Infants on Thrones? Now is your chance to say it, and possibly win a cash prize for doing it. This episode contains 4 example essays: “Testimony” by Glenn Ostlund (from 2008) “Obedience” by Tom Perry (from 2008) “Tangled” by Scott Rowley (from 2009) “Testimony Update” by Glenn Ostlund (Dec 2017) Click here for more details about the essay contest.

Why do otherwise smart and intelligent people defend really bad ideas? How does our brain respond to perceived threats? What are mirror neurons? Glenn shares a kookie but fascinating video about the brain and tells a lot of stories along the way. Could this video possibly contain the seeds of answers to some of the biggest existential questions we still ask ourselves, even after a faith crisis? This episode was produced as a video podcast first. You will get more out of it watching than you will listening. You can watch the video here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/15643003 After watching the video, please also take a few moments to fill out this survey: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=v8jvs A link to the original video, without Glenn’s commentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbBA14Adydw

Tom and Matt are joined by Eric Herman, also known as Weird Alma. Eric talks about his journey from addiction, joining the church, and then eventually leaving. We also talk about some of the songs on his parody album, “Straight Outta Cumorah.” Eric is a musician who focuses on creating music for kids. http://www.EricHermanMusic.com http://www.WeirdAlma.com http://www.EricEndres.com

Bob is joined by Glenn, Tom, Matt, Randy, and friend-of-the-show Lindsay Hansen Park to discuss comedian Louis C.K.’s sexual misconduct in the context of “the reckoning,” the post Harvey Weinstein moment. See below for a couple of resources mentioned in the episode. When Does a Watershed Become a Sex Panic? https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/when-does-a-watershed-become-a-sex-panic   How We Can End Sexual Harassment at Work https://www.ted.com/talks/gretchen_carlson_how_we_can_end_sexual_harassment_at_work

In this Froback Friday hybrid, Glenn and Matt are joined by Nancy and Melissa to reflect on Nancy’s Listener Essay about Sexual Assault from Jan 2015.

Mass shootings. Sexual assault. Why do men keep doing horrible things? Glenn, Matt, Jake, Lindsay, and Paige conclude their smack around of the article “Thoughts on Vegas, and Why Men Keep Doing This” by author Charlie Hoehn. https://byrslf.co/thoughts-on-the-vegas-shooting-14af397cee2c

Mass shootings. Sexual assault. Why do men keep doing horrible things? Glenn, Matt, Jake, Lindsay, and Paige smack around the article “Thoughts on Vegas, and Why Men Keep Doing This” by author Charlie Hoehn. https://byrslf.co/thoughts-on-the-vegas-shooting-14af397cee2c

Who you gonna call? Listen in as Glenn talks with Ryan Straub, an honest to goodness PI (Paranormal Investigator) with honest to goodness experience with honest to goodness hauntings. Enjoy. http://ryanstraub.wixsite.com/-iiirdeyechronicles/ryan-straub

Mormon Ghost Stories are LAME.

Haunted houses and Mormon missionaries. This is the final “chunk” of the Oxenholm story. This is Chunk #11

Haunted houses and Mormon missionaries. One small piece of the story told for every day for the entire month of October. Here is Chunk #10

Haunted houses and Mormon missionaries. One small piece of the story told for every day for the entire month of October. Here is Chunk #9

It’s general conference parody time again. Enjoy.

Haunted houses and Mormon missionaries. One small piece of the story told for every day for the entire month of October. Here is Chunk #8

Haunted houses and Mormon missionaries. One small piece of the story told for every day for the entire month of October. Here is Chunk #7.

Tom talks with his wife about a grudge she held for a very long time with her sister, and how she deals with that today.

Haunted houses and Mormon missionaries. One small piece of the story told for every day for the entire month of October. Here is Chunk #6.

Haunted houses and Mormon missionaries. One small piece of the story told for every day for the entire month of October. Here is Chunk #5.

Haunted houses and Mormon missionaries. One small piece of the story told for every day for the entire month of October. Here is Chunk #4.

Haunted houses and Mormon missionaries. One small piece of the story told for every day for the entire month of October. Here is Chunk #3.

Haunted houses and Mormon missionaries. One small piece of the story told for every day for the entire month of October. Here is Chunk #2.

Matt and Tom sit down with the mormonleaks guys, Ryan and Ethan, as they update us on what’s been going on in the world of Mormon leaks.

In the whole big history of haunted houses and mormon missionaries there must (needs) be some totally true absolutely legit ghost stories out there with missionaries in haunted houses, right? LDS Living magazine says YES! Glenn says HELL YES! Enjoy this first little bite of a month-long Chunky Infant Ghost Story feast.

Tom leads a discussion on Grudges part one with a clip that includes Bob, Matt, Glenn and Scott and then finishes with a panel discussion with Jake and Matt.

Joseph H. Jackson is perhaps the poor man’s John C Bennett. Both men published exposes on Joseph Smith. Bennett’s work is better known. Jackson’s is lesser known. Both are equally fascinating. This is the first part of a multiplayer-part series.

How many Mormon Priesthood leaders does it take to rob a train? Which LDS prophet was poisoned a few days after attending a Bohemian Club in San Fransisco? Kenneth Lines has found a lot of nutty things in Mormon History. Just nutty, I tell ya. And he talks about a lot of them with Glenn, Bob, and John Hamer. And the nuttiest part is that you get to listen.

John Hamer talks about Joseph Smith successor James Strang and the impressive engravings on Strang’s Vorhee Plates. This is John’s presentation from Salt Lake City Sunstone 2017.

Tom continues his exploration what it means to forgive.

Tom continues his exploration of Apologies, Forgiveness, and Grudges with this amazing panel discussion from almost 5 years ago — once thought lost — now found. So listen in as Tom, Matt, Glenn, Bob, and Scott (aka “Jesse) talk about what it means to each of them to forgive.

Did Joseph Smith use homeopathic hallucinogenics to enhance the religious experience of his early mormon followers? Naked Mormonism’s Bryce Blankenagel joins Glenn, Matt, and guest panelists Lindsey and Micah to sift through the historical evidence. Or clues. Or whatnot.

This is the audio from Tom’s 2017 SLC Sunstone presentation. Video for the slides Tom used can be seen here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/mixed-faith-13706101

What does it mean to say you are sorry? What does it take to accept someone else’s apology? Listen in as Tom poses these questions to the most important people in his life. This is the first in an upcoming series on Apologies, Grudges, and forgiveness. A video version of this presentation, with the slides Tom showed to the live audience, is available here on our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/posts/13706101

What happens when you mix “The Singles Ward” with “My Big Fat Greek Wedding?” The Infants read Glenn’s old screenplay “How to Marry a Mormon.”

Here is what the Infants will be doing at Sunstone at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City this upcoming weekend (July 27-29) https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/FinalProgram-web.pdf

Glenn, Bob, and Matt continue their virtual conversation with Zach, Josh, Natalie, and Nano.

Glenn and Matt’s smack up of Michael Harriot’s “The Black Person’s Guide to Game of Thrones” ultimately leads to a discussion about Passive Aggressiveness in Mormon Culture. Video version available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/infants-on-game-13126827

Our new friend Bill Reel has published a document called the Mormon Primer, or Primmer, or something like that. Think of it as a softer, gentler CES Letter for believers. How could we not start to smack down a document like this? But why is this episode called Behind Closed Doors? You’ll have to listen to find out.

At long last. Here it is. Glenn and a bunch of listeners guide you through the Universe. Bang. A big one. And don’t worry — you always end up right where you started when exploring the universe. Because, you know…. science.

Glenn and Tom are joined by listener and licensed therapist Dr. Wendy to discuss a BYU article on Perfectionism (yes, it is intentionally misspelled in the title, cuz that is so incrdbly hillaryous) and to pitch an idea for a possible new series that may or may not be the best thing since self-slicing bread.

What is Spiritual Abuse and when is enough enough? Bill Reel, faithful active host of the Mormon Discussion podcast, joins Glenn, Tom and Matt to discuss the finer points of head-butting dense brick walls.

Glenn takes a hard-hitting, investigative journalistic approach to Fair Mormon’s recent blog post: “Of Testimonies and Twelve Year Olds.” Thank you, Fair Mormon, for placing this Savannah 12-year-old-lesbian testimony-bearing thingy into the proper context. I don’t know where we would be without you.

Which Infant once wrote in his mission journal, “I think God hates me.  So I’m gonna do everything I can to get into the celestial kingdom — just to spite Him!”  You will find out on today’s episode as Matt, Bob, Tom, Jake and Glenn continue our discussion about outrage by reflecting on our mission experiences and reading entries from our old mission journals.  Glenn also explains more about our new Patreon page to encourage you all to support our creative efforts going forward.  Click below to find out more: https://www.patreon.com/Infants  

Matt, Bob, Tom, Jake and Glenn talk about outrage in today’s social media age in a fun and spirited throwback Infant-kind-of way.  We also have some excellent bonus content for listeners who join our new Patreon page to support our creative efforts going forward.  Click below to find out more: https://www.patreon.com/Infants  

This episode of Infants on Thrones may very well change the experience of podcasting forever!  At least it will for the people who’s podcasting experiences are forever changed by this episode.  Will you be one of them? Also…  Bob’s Mormon Cred Scale.  What an Easter Egg!

Let’s imagine for a moment that we are not in the middle of some major divisive conflicts between people we all appreciate and care about.  And instead, let’s ask ourselves the question “what are our shared moral values?”  That’s what Glenn does in this minisode.  And we desire all to receive it. Also, please take a few moments to fill out our new survey on VALUES. https://proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=bvl8w We really want to hear what principles are most important to you.  Thanks!

Randy and Glenn talk about apologetics, planting seeds, and our new best friend from down under and off to the right, Kiwi57.

Are Mormon Priesthood holders really more powerful than Jesus?  Are Mormons really even Christians?  Listen in as Glenn responds to some very intelligent, articulate, critical comments recently made on the IOT website by faithful believing Mormon listener Kiwi57.

Come back with us to October 2013 for our 3-part series “Who Wrote the Book of Mormon.”  John Hamer, Craig Criddle, and so much more.

Glenn provides a brief update on the listener responses that have come in from yesterday’s episode (TLDL: no, we are not shutting down Infants on Thrones) and shares a particularly awesome mission story, if he does say so himself (And he does.  Trust me.  I know.  Cuz he is me, referring to himself in the third person.  Like a weirdo.  Trust me on that one, too).

This one’s a two-fer.  Two episodes in one.  First, Glenn, Matt, and Scott talk about stuff.  Then, Randy, Glenn, Tom, Matt and Bob talk about more stuff.  Then there’s a pretty long easter egg at the end with even more talking about even more stuff.  And there’s that whole thing about three patterns.  Plus, you will never guess who is quitting Infants on Thrones!

In the season 1 finale of the NAG, Sage explores the concept of the ‘Angry Atheist’ – and who better to guide him than Randy?  So take a drink, get riled up and come get angry with us one last time. Featured Track:  “God is an Indian” by Modest Mouse

One of our best episodes ever.  First published in July 2014, this may be the very first word-for-word, pick-it-apart Infant Smackdown. In 1976, our favorite LDS Apostle, Boyd K. Packer gave a talk in priesthood session “To Young Men Only” that was not subsequently published in the Ensign the following month, nor can it be found as a conference talk on LDS.org today. It was turned into a pamphlet in 1981 “To Young Men Only” and that text is available on LDS.org but the audio and video are not on the official website of the LDS church. But we Infants found an audio copy. And in this episode, Glenn, Tom, Matt, and Jake dissect it as it has never been dissected before. Hold on to your little factories, cuz this is gonna be a good one.

Historian extraordinaire John Hamer rains credibility all over the Infants by Hamsplaining the origin of Good Friday.  With tongue firmly in cheek, of course (aka “Infant Style”)

Once again, Infant General Conference is here for your edification and stuff. This time with a very special mystery guest.

Is this episode filled with new material or recycled Fro-back Friday material? With General Conference, it’s nearly impossible to tell. Regardless, this is chalk full of some of the best stuff we have ever done. Love it as we do. Amen.

Does shared morality bind and blind? If so, what does it blind us to? Glenn revisits a 7-year-old Mormon Stories episode he recorded in April 2010 with his divorced parents, his two siblings, and the ever-inquisitive John Dehlin. But this time, Glenn looks at it through the eyes of Jonathan Haidt’s Moral Foundations Theory because the Moral Foundations Theory has been totally rocking Glenn’s world lately. Maybe it will rock yours, too.

This is part 3 of 3.

This is part 2 of 3.

This is part 1 of 3.

Are Mormons Christians? What is the official Mormon response to Abuse? Affinity Fraud? Church Finances? The Clannish nature of Church Members? Dissent? Hard-to-believe Events in Church History? And a dozen other topics? Mormon Leaks’ founder Ryan McKnight joins Glenn, Randy, John, and Matt to smack down the latest leaked document: Guideline Responses to Common Questions. Oh yeah…. And John’s Ambassador is plenipotent. #Duh! https://mormonleaks.io/wiki/documents/5/55/Guideline_Responses_to_Common_Questions.pdf

Bob is joined by special guest Kat, his sister, who recently resigned from Mormonism after attending their grandmother’s Mormon funeral. Something happened at the funeral, something both shocking and routine: a bishop’s talk. Bob recreates the talk word for word, and the two of them discuss what happened after reminiscing about growing up Mormon.

It’s the second to last episode of season 1 of the NAG and love is in the air… which is pretty convenient ‘cause that’s what this episode is all about! Join Sage and his lovely wife Rachel (on her infants debut) as they talk about how their love has changed over 14 years of marriage, 2 kids, and one whopper of a faith transition.

Is there an echo in here? Facebook posts. Podcast listeners. Church groups. Political affiliation. Echo chambers are definitely all around us. Glenn, Scott, and Matt each discuss their own thoughts on these Echo Chambers at the Phoenix Sunstone conference. Recorded on Saturday March 11, 2017.

Last weekend, the Church released a new and improved video depiction of the First Vision that claimed to incorporate the various accounts Joseph Smith gave to “provide additional perspectives and insights into this remarkable event.” Glenn, Matt, Randy, Bob, and Jake decide to do a bit of remarking themselves.

Travel back in time to August 2014 for one of our first smackdown episodes as Jake, Bob, Randy, Scott, and Glenn discuss the then-recent essay on The Book of Abraham from LDS.org.

Matt, Jake, and Scott talk to Dr. Josh Britt about the pros and cons of medical marijuana and the practice of doing “whip its.”

Are you planning the perfect date this V-Day?  You know, a date that’s the perfect combination of thoughtful, playful, cute, and sexy?  Kristin and Matt (but mostly Kristin) suggest one way to turn a lame holiday into a day you and your partner (or partners) will remember for years to come.

Who says you should avoid talking about politics and religion?  Matt and Glenn interview Melinda “Mindy” Butler, an immigration attorney for The Florence Project in Arizona, to learn more about the three recent Executive Orders on immigration.

Glenn, Matt, and Scott smack down a blog post because many of you asked us to.  So we did.  In front of about 50 lovely listeners.  And now the rest of you can hear it.  This episode was recorded January 8, 2017.   http://happiness-seekers.com/2017/01/02/the-alarming-truth-behind-anti-mormonism/

Bob is joined by himself to discuss the latest attack on John Dehlin’s research aka “John Dehlin and the Weaponization of Scientific Research” aka some Mormon blogger really wanting to be taken seriously.

It’s hard enough parenting kids when Jesus is your co-pilot.  What do you do when he jumps ship? (or after you mutiny and throw him to the crocodiles — maybe that’s a better metaphor). Sage is back to interview APEs Matt and Kristin (Atheist Parents Extraordinaire) — with a few comments from third-wheel-Glenn — as they discuss raising kids sans-faith-in-God.  Stick around to the end for a special announcement!

Matt and Tom sit down with Ryan McKnight and Privacy P Pratt (not his real name) to discuss General Authority pay stubs, the difference between mormon- and wiki- leaking, and leaks and leakers and just a bunch of leaking stuff in general.  You’re in for a real treat (as opposed to urine for a real treat).  Cuz details matter.

Hop into the Infant time machine back to August 2012 when Tom, Glenn, Randy, Matt, and Bob explore the concept of guilt.

Jesus listens to Infants on Thrones, and so can you.  So open up your gift from the Infants a little early this year and gird up your loins against the war on Secularistmas.  ‘Cuz today Glenn, Randy, Jake, and John read through the recent “Light the World” advent program from the LDS church.  With glee.  Seriously, there was some literal bowl-full-of-jellying going on during this one.  And while we may not have been wearing ugly sweaters, we did find some of the most horribly worst all-time Christmas songs to intersperse throughout the conversations.  So Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all the rest.  Enjoy.   WWHAJD?

Guest host Drew takes a break from his patented Godly Google Goggles to walk us through this obscure little religious thingy from the country that brought us Tandoori Chicken and Tikka Masala.  Unofficially subtitled “Everything You Never Knew You Didn’t Want to Know about Hinduism so You Never Cared to Ask,” Drew takes us on a fascinating journey beyond the red dot.  Listen to this one with your third ear.

You get to be a fly on the wall in this very special episode of Infants on Thrones.  And you get to hear Matt sing with his wife Kristin.  Totally worth the price of admission.  This was recorded at a live Christmas musical event on Dec 18, 2016.

Lindsay Hansen Park and Andrew Ainsworth join Glenn, Matt, Scott and John to geek out all over the HBO series Westworld.  SPOILERS included free of charge.  And plenty of existential “what is reality?” discussions for those not following the show.  These Infantile delights have Infantile ends.

Glenn provides an update on the SHONE project (Short History of Nearly Everything) and asks for some SHONEY volunteers.  And then – since it is December and all — Glenn also shares some music from The Decembrists (get it?)   He may even sing for you. Click here if you are interested in participating in the SHONE project: http://proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=jztaw Or click HERE if you are not.

Listen in as all nine Infants hold HILARIOUS poses for the current all-the-rage Mannequin Challenge.  You’ll never believe who shows up to pose along with us!

Michael Adam Ferguson joins Jake and Glenn to talk about the moral mind. And tastebuds.  Can’t we all just get along?

Take a break from all the post-election fallout.  Calm your mind.  Breathe.  And then listen in as Noah Rasheta delivers a talk to the Nautilus Community in Mesa, Arizona.  Noah is the host of the Secular Buddhism podcast. He addresses meditation practice, philosophy, how to break up 3 patterns (implied), and of course and secular buddhism.

Glenn pitches an idea for reviewing the book “A Short History of Nearly Everything.”  Tell us what you think.  Is this something you’d like to hear more of, or not?

Glenn dazes into his peep stone for yet another far out translation of Chapter 3, man. Seriously.  This is totally real, you guys.   And this time it’s all about… time.

Follow our beloved President Boyd K Packer for his annual All Hallow’s return from the eternal hereafter to lead us all through some bonus listener generated conference content (mingled with a few little Infant-generated tricks and treats, both new and old). Special and remarkable thanks to Andrew, Holly, Jordan, and Sage for their special and remarkable contributions. Enjoy!  (that is a command)

 In this, the sixth episode of the NAG, join Sage and fellow ‘nobody’ Drew as they explore the concepts of belief, wonder and spirituality as Atheists.  They’ll ask poignant questions such as ‘What is the ultimate truth of the universe?’ not so poignant questions like ‘Do animals believe in god?’ and even questions no one thought to ask like ‘Can you worship a magic motorcycle?’  Enjoy! Featured tracks:  Cover of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ by Holly Henry, Carl Sagan’s ‘Pale Blue Dot’ accompanied by Ludovico Einaudi’s “The Earth Prelude”

It’s time for Infant General Conference again.  You know the drill.

Matt and Glenn try (and maybe sorta momentarily succeed, we hope) to sift away all partisanship from conversations from this past crazy week and focus on the one unifying message that everyone should agree on.  Lewd and derogatory male attitudes towards women can no longer be considered acceptable in our world.  It’s about much more than politics now.  It’s about our mothers, and daughters, and wives, and friends.  It’s about improving our shared social morality.  Positive words can have a measurable impact on the physical world.  That isn’t just magical thinking.  We’re hoping the words of this episode will add our small piece to this current critical mass to make this moment of awareness one that will transform our world and not be soon forgotten.  And Matt shares a clip from the Simpsons.

In the outstanding tradition of Infant October Fear episodes, Glenn explains his very real fear of the potential impending Trumpocalypse.  No kitty cats were grabbed in the making of this episode.

Infants on Thrones proudly presents Tom Perry once again as The ExMo Guru in the most relevant brilliant earth-shattering performance of Brother Perry’s storied career (yes I am a huge homer of a Tom Perry fan, Rock Star that he is).  But don’t take my word for it.  Listen!  Listen now!  Your eternal relaxation depends on it!  And this salvation is free (it will only cost 21 minutes of your time and a small portion of your innocence).  What are you waiting for?  Listen already!

Want to hear the real reason Mormon leaders don’t want women to hold the priesthood? In a follow-up interview to last week’s “Unrighteous Dominion” episode, Michelle and Adam join Glenn, Jake, and Matt to explain why they secretly recorded the bishop who likes swimming’ suits, and they share another secretly recorded discussion with the bishop, where Michelle valiantly stands up to the Patriarchy.  And wins.  Vicarious uppercut.

This is the audio to Glenn’s Sunstone presentation given on July 30, 2016, where Glenn explains the type of Mormon he was before and after his graduate studies (culminating in a MA Thesis Japanese Lost Tribes stories and a half-finished dissertation on Mormon Humor), and walks through some of the reasons why — for him — faith ultimately yielded to education (and uncertainty).

Should LDS Bishops ask 7-year-old children if they “touch themselves” or if they show their private parts to others? Jake, Matt and Glenn dramatically and critically re-enact a real live secretly recorded bishops interview with a real live secretly recorded bishop.  If you believe that Prophets instruct Apostles, and that Apostles instruct General Authorities, and that General Authorities instruct Stake Presidents, and that Stake Presidents instruct Bishops, and that Bishops instruct Elders Quorum presidents and Relief Society Presidents, then you probably don’t need to worry if you are ever in a car accident.  And you would also certainly fail in a game of Six Degrees of God (i.e. Kevin Bacon). The reddit link with the original source material can be found here: Masterbation now a question for 8 year olds in the Baptismal interview. from exmormon

Benji takes us on a journey of the Mormon Matrix and tackles the ever-growing accounts of suicide ravaging the LGBT Mormon youth. Featuring conversations with a mother and a father of gay teens and mixed with badass music.

In the 5th episode of the NAG, Sage and Glen explore the labels that define us (or don’t) and how it may or may not be possible to redeem or redefine the term ‘Atheist’. Featured Song: God – John Lennon cover by the Bluebeat

In a manly display of manly manliness, Matt, Tom, Randy, and Glenn discuss BYU’s bid for the Big 12 conference and read through a letter signed by multiple LGBT advocacy groups urging the Big 12 to pass on BYU due to its anti-LGBT policies. Jocks gonna jock.

Tune in this week as Sage interviews the wildly talented R. John Williams from the band Faded Paper Figures.  Together they talk about the power of music to transform us, to enlighten us and to best express all of our pent up ex-Mormon angst.

Glenn makes a few announcements, reads a few listener emails, and shares the earth shattering new scripture for serious Wing Eaters: The Word of Wingdom.  Yes.  It is every bit as stupid as it sounds. Text can be found here: The Word of Wingdom

Matt and Glenn continue their in-car post-Sunstone discussion — this time about magic, marijuana, and three patterns.  And rituals.  And what it means for something to be weird.  And other things.  And Matt demonstrates the gracious way to embrace defeat, and ignorance, and shame.  Darkly.  Again.  And sometimes Glenn writes really weird episode descriptions.  Like this one.  Again.

Matt and Glenn talk about their recent experience at Sunstone and a bunch of other fun, thought-provoking, interesting stuff — including three-patterns like that one — and tease a few future episode topics.

Glenn, Jake, Randy, and John give Elder Holland’s recent Education Week address, “Bound by Loving Ties,” the Olympic-sized smacking down it needs. And the one it deserves.

Listen in on the latest installment of the New Atheist’s Guide as Jake and Sage discuss The Devil–with a cameo appearance from the Lord o’ Darkness himself. (Spoiler alert: he has issues.)

Bob, Jake, John, and eventually Randy get together to discuss politics and Mormonism (but mostly politics) in the context of the United States presidential election of 2016.

Sage’s New Atheist’s Guide (N.A.G.) continues with episode 2–a conversation with Bob about hope.

Let’s face it: atheists have a bad rap, and some of that is richly deserved–the smug self-righteousness with which many wield their God-free worldview is about as charming as a menthol enema. However, losing your faith doesn’t have to lead to the dark path of douchebaggery, which the honorable Sage Turk aims to illustrate in an exciting new series: The New Atheist’s Guide to Not Being a Total Asshole. Take a listen to the first installment–a conversation between Sage and Tom on the subject of fear.

Listener and fan of the show, Jake sits down with Tom and Kim Gustavsson to talk about his listener submitted essay titled, “Verbal JiuJitsu”. Kim’s company and website: http://accendeo.com/ “We must try to penetrate our most secret self, and examine our being from all sides. . . . And so, for the first time in my life perhaps (although I am supposed to meditate every day!), I took the lamp and, leaving the zone of everyday occupations and relationships where everything seems clear, I went down into my inmost self, to the deep abyss whence I feel dimly that my power of action emanates. But as I moved further and further away from the conventional certainties by which social life is superficially illuminated, I became aware that I was losing contact with myself. At each step of the descent a new person was disclosed within me of whose name I was no longer sure, and who no longer obeyed me. And when I had to stop my exploration because the path faded from beneath my steps, I found a bottomless abyss at my feet, and out of it came—arising I know not from where—the current which I dare to call my life.” – Teilhard de Chardin, Pierre. The Divine Milieu (New York: Harper & Row Publishers, Incorporated, 1960)  p. 42

How to discuss the scriptures with your kids.  Or at least how Glenn did it.  And recorded it.  One time.

Glenn sits down for a brief discussion with his mother about her faith crisis and elicits her sage advice for listeners of Infants on Thrones.  Which starts with how to get an IOT T-Shirt (or super awesome mug) of your very own.  Check out the T-Shirt Tab on our website, infantsonthrones.com.

A never-Mormon from England stumbled across Infants on Thrones and tells us who she is and what she thinks.  A woman comes to terms with her reaction to her drag Queen husband.  A physician who suffers from Crohns Disease explains the psychological and emotional impact of daily chronic pain, and a way that understanding changes the traditional narrative of Jesus bleeding from every pore in the Atonement.  These are just a few of the many excellent listener essays in  today’s Infant Compilation.  They are all very good, except for the bad parts.  (that’s not a slam — it’s a reference to one of the essays.  You’ll see what I mean)

John Hamer teaches Glenn, Randy, and Jake a thing or two about the LDS priesthood. And its origins. And its authority. And its power. And the magical-ness of the Mormon Worldview. And it is funny. And informative. And will tickle your ears, warm your hearts, and engorge your brains. Do not seek the treasure (we thought you was a toad).

Ever wonder why the Infants are such smug, dismissive, judgmental, black-and-white thinking ex-mormons who are no better than the smug, dismissive, judgmental, black-and-white thinking Believing Mormons who they smugly and dismissively mock, and bully, and disrespect again and again and again? Well one listener named Jeremy has and asked the question, “Why you gotta be so caustic, yo? Can’t you Infants just respect people, dog?” So listen in as Matt and Glenn say, “Hey Jeremy… here’s what we think of all that. Homey.”

Infants on Thrones will be at Sunstone once again this year, July 28-30. Listen in to what we are planning. You will also find a filthy dirty outtake from our latest clean recording with John Dehlin, the Reluctant Atheist. This is a short one. But you’ll love it. Or you won’t. We swear.

An occasional knee-slapping, borderline insightful, completely infantile review the 2003 movie The Book of Mormon Vol 1: The Journey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijknQ5qJWkc

Seven of the Nine Infants gathered for a weekend in Vail Colorado and recorded their response to some listener feedback and a smackdown-of-sorts to a newspaper article about (former) Mormon PR Boss Michael Otterson.  So listen in as Glenn, Tom, Randy, Jake, Matt, John, and Scott sit around the same table and talk into a single microphone for once.

Randy is joined by Bob and special guest Aaron Tunell to discuss LDS Inc.’s Perpetual Education Fund, a program started in 2001 to help students in developing countries. But all is not as it seems on the surface.

Join in as Jake and Randy find a rare pocket of effusive praise for Elder Patrick Kearon’s recent conference address (Refuge from the Storm). Warning–may cause cognitive dissonance.

Today, Tom and Jake are joined by Tom Doggett, the man behind the Hard-to-Find Mormon Videos channel on YouTube, to discuss the origins of the project and the goldmine that is the LDS media archive. For those that grew up on such national treasures as Cipher in the Snow or Johnny Lingo, this is gonna be an eight-cow episode. (To take a look at That Which Was Lost, click here.)

It’s that time again! Tune in to hear Jake, Randy, Glenn, and Bob’s contribution to the latest installment in the General Conference – Infant Style series. Special thanks to our talented guest contributors Andrew (Elder Durrant), Allison (lady speaker), and Lincoln (opening hymn). (To read or listen to Elder Kearon’s original talk, click here.)

Glenn walks us through another Fro-back Friday episode — a discussion recorded in December 2010 between pre-Infants Glenn, Tom, and Scott (aka “Jesse”) with special guests Mike Tannehill and Brandt Malone. It’s all about the importance of bloodlines. And posterity. And covenants. And dispensations. And how Abraham sort of trumps Jesus in the whole hierarchy of what it is that makes Mormons so damn special. Enjoy.

Sage and Tom recently took a tour in the recently remodeled Church History Museum in downtown Salt Lake City and recorded and commented about their experience.  

Matt, John, and Randy talk with two marijuana experts. The first, a entrepreneur who grows and sells marijuana, legally. The other, Cheech and Chong’s best friend and friend to the podcast, Micah Nickolaisen. Learn a little bit about every hippy’s favorite pastime and find out if marijuana should be legal. Spoiler alert: yes, the answer is yes!

The Infants pay a brief but special tribute to the recent remarkable words and message of Elder David A(hole) Bednar, and to the huge Packer-sized stick shoved up his member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ass. Special thanks to Lily Allen for nailing it so completely. Matt asks, “Hey Glenn, where was this two days ago?” Well it’s here now. https://youtu.be/HqazNWjLEhw

Glenn pays tribute to Kevin, his childhood friend. The guy who was in a private plane crash when he was 5 years old and lost all feeling in his legs; the guy who saw his wheelchair as a mark of his worthiness, or lack their of, and tragically took his own life at the young age of 31. Glenn was asked to speak at Kevin’s funeral back in November 2002, and recently found the audio of that speech, as well as some journal entries where he struggles with the doctrinal implications of Kevin’s death.

In 1984, Elder Ronald E Polman delivered a talk titled “The Gospel and the Church” in General Conference. It emphasized the importance of an eternally divine gospel being delivered through a man-made fallible church. The Brethren did not like this message, and made him re-write the talk to make the church as eternally divine and infallible as the gospel. They also made him re-deliver the talk in front of an empty tabernacle to record it and pass it off as the original. But thanks to home VCRs, they got caught. And today you can hear all about it, including clips from both the original talk and the re-written message. So listen in as Glenn and Scott (aka Jesse) are joined by Rock Waterman and James Rogers two discuss A Tale of two Poelmans. *This recorded conversation was previously released in January 2011 on another podcast but has since been removed. Now it is back where it belongs.

Fun fact: this episode was almost titled “Communist-lead Negro Guerrilla Units.” Why? Find out for yourself as Randy, Glenn, and Matt welcome Anissa and Kim back to the podcast to smack down a 1967 conference talk from Ezra Taft Benson called “Civil Rights: Tool of Communist Deception.” Fair warning: do not drink any dark liquids while listening to this episode, as you might unintentionally yet fervidly stain your habiliments. Civil Rights: Tool of Communist Deception

Matt Long talks with John Dehlin about the recently re-released article on their website, titled, “Effectiveness of Church Approach to Preventing Child Abuse.” Spoiler alert: Matt was not impressed. http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/effectiveness-of-church-approach-to-preventing-child-abuse

Matt, Randy, and Glenn smack down Elder Nelson’s recent address to BYU-H students. America’s favorite dancer Benji Schwimmer joins us for the second half. And Randy’s favorite celebrity Gwenyth Paltrow may or may not make a special appearance as well.

What the heck is going on with this Captian Moroni rancher guy up in Oregon who is defying the US Government? Isn’t there an article of faith somewhere about honoring governments, or something like that? Either way, listen in as Matt talks with Special Infant Guest Drew about the whole crazy story and its cultural ties to Mormonism.

Bob walks us through the parallels between Mormonism and the game Diablo 3. What if Mormonism ultimately is just a role-playing game?

John, Glenn, Matt, and Tom review the new Star Wars movie, discuss the Mormon fascination with Star Wars in general, and then geek out about super hero movies and random pop culture.

In a best-of clip-show for the ages, and at finally for at long last, Dennis pulls back the proverbial curtain and introduces you to Billy, Sandy, Jasper, and Jim of Brainfard Productions, the actual real sorta-genuis-types behind Infants on Thrones. No joke. Unless it is. Thanks for a fun 2015. And who knows…

Sage Turk returns to Infants on Thrones with his Listener Essay “Disproving Santa Claus.” Jake and Tom join in the conversation as “apologetics” turn towards the satirically ridiculous and the absurd – for once. No, that was not a chiasmus.

Does anything say Christmas more than the Jazz Singer, Neil Diamond himself? In the tradition of phenomenally inspiring Primary Christmas Programs, President Infant-Monson narrates a sacred Christmas story as sung by the Mormon Tab-and-Apple Children’s Chorus and the legendary Neil Diamond. Listen in for the big reveal of the true identity of Santa Claus.

Ho Ho Ho and happy birthday Jesus! Celebrate all the Holidays this and learn the reason for the season by listening to Scott and Matt discuss how grateful Dallin H. Oaks is to get Holiday cards. Cuz he is. He really really is. As long as they are the right ones.

Listen in as Brother Jake gives a poetic year-end review of the goings-on of Mormonism, along with some suggestions for holiday purchases to brighten the holiday mood. All items available here: http://www.askbrotherjake.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

Glenn reflects on the role that Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender issues played in his life in coming to an understanding of what it really means to follow the teachings of Jesus, and what it really means to not. In the process, he hopefully finds a few things to actually be thankful for approaching this Thanksgiving 2015.

IOT listener Sage conducts man-(and-women)-on-the-street interviews at the LDS Mass Resignation event held in Salt Lake City on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Thanks Sage!

How is this new LDS policy impacting real lives of real people? Why would a gay couple even want their children to be involved in the Mormon church? And how does a gay person even have children in the first place? Scott conducts two interviews with men whose families are directly impacted by the LDS Church’s Children Alienation and Exclusion policy. Listen in as the Infants once again do their darnedest to scoop their big tall buddy, John Dehlin.

Listen in as the Infants answer questions from reddit users. Yes, it really is exactly as fascinating as it sounds. Click here to read all of the questions and answers from the Reddit AMA: Reddit Ask Me Anything/

Do you love the Mormon Church?  Do you love their new totally Christ-like policy of alienation and exclusion for children of certain kinds of abominable parents?  Do you love the magical songs of Disney?  Do you love Infants on Thrones’ sing-a-long smack downs?  Well, if you love all that stuff right there, then this is the episode you have never known you were always waiting for your entire life.  Enjoy! Special thanks to Craig Keeling for the album art. Edit: The songs are now individually available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy1UECRaEEyWhOl4qzDpo3WUM6Yk9MHSK      

Tom is joined by his brave and excellent wife to interview another couple, Neal & Naomi, and discuss some of the difficulties of living in a mixed faith marriage. Neal & Naomi’s podcast Unequally Yoked can be found here: http://unequally-yoked.net

What’s worse than murder and rape? The only sin so powerful it punishes innocent children for the “sins” of their parents even if, you know, that doesn’t sound like Mormon Doctrine… In this episode, Bob, Matt, Randy, and Scott discuss the new policy changes from the Mormon Church that set apart homosexuality as a sin unlike any other. Children of same-sex married people must now be 18 to be baptized and must disavow their parents’ marriage. Follow along as we smackdown the changes to LDS Handbook 1.

The Infants will be conducting an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit this upcoming Monday, Nov 9th, at 10:30pm ET. Go to the link below to send us questions, and log in with your reddit account on Monday to interact with the Infants. We will also be recording our behind the scenes commentary and responses to your questions, and publish that as a future episode. So help us make this a nominally interesting experience by giving us some nominally interesting questions. Edit: Tom has confirmed that he will be joining as well. So it will be a full rowdy group on Monday. Go to Reddit and write your questions here: Reddit Ask Me Anything

Three years ago, the still-learning-how-to-walk Infants released an episode called FEAR. In as close to a RadioLab style as we could muster, we explored the world of ouija boards, evil spirits, night terrors, lucid dreaming, and a hodgepodge of other somewhat-fear-related topics. Some of that original episode was even pretty good. Today Matt and Glenn reflect on that experience and present to you a massively edited version. And don’t miss today’s special easter egg. Because not everyone appreciated Infant Monson’s recent story about Ted, and his unfortunate tarring and re-tarring incident. Or the repeated use of a certain clip from the television show “Freaks and Geeks.” Well, Glenn has something to say about all that, and he did in today’s easter egg, and it will never happen again. The original FEAR episode still exists here for any gluttons for punishment. http://infantsonthrones.com/fear/

John, Scott, Randy, Jake, and Matt Smack down Dan Peterson’s recent blog post about the doctrinal “thin gruel” the Community of Christ offers its members, and what it reveals about the myopia of the LDS view. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson/2015/10/dissatisfied-liberal-mormons-find-refuge-in-the-community-of-christ.html

The Infants review two movies about belief: Bill Mahr’s “Religulous” and Vikram Gandhi’s “Kumare.”

Tough weekend? Experiencing a little PCSD? (Post-Conference Stress Disorder) Allow newly anointed Ex-mo Meditation Guru Tom Perry to take you through a short relaxation exercise that should have you feeling better about the world in no time.

What would will the world look like if when everyone everywhere were is Mormon? Look no further than BYU campus living! In this episode, Bob, Glenn, Jake, Matt, and Randy smack down the BYU Honor Code.

Have you ever wanted to laugh during a prayer? Have you ever wondered what Glenn sounded like as a 19-year-old missionary full of missionary zeal (or at least full of something)? Have you ever wanted to hear Bob sing all about his faith crisis (or, even better, have you ever wanted to comment on Bob’s singing cred?) Well, if any of those describe your particularly uncomfortable itch, then today’s Froback Friday episode is definitely gonna scratch it. And then some.

Do you love Women? Do you believe that Women should have equal rights guaranteed under the law? Did you know that the United States of America does not guarantee this in the US Constitution today? Forty years ago, long before Prop 8, the Mormon church used fear-based tactics and political pressure to block the ERA – the Equal Rights Amendment that congress passed in 1972 – which would have added the following simple language to the US Constitution: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” By 1975, 35 US States had ratified the amendment. It needed 38 to pass. Three highly populated Mormon states – Utah, Arizona, and Nevada – never ratified this amendment. Today, a small but growing group of Mormons for ERA want to do something about that. Listen in as Infants Glenn, Matt and John are joined by ERA advocates Chelsea Shields, Anissa Rasheta, and Mark Barnes talk about their plans to make history. For more information on the Equal Rights Amendment, click here: http://www.equalrightsamendment.org

In the 3rd installment of the ongoing series, Carl gets an apologetic visitor to his new apartment. To listen to the first episode of Carl the Casual Satanist, click here: http://infantsonthrones.com/carl-the-casual-satanist-episode-1-carl-throws-a-party/ To listen to the second, click here: http://infantsonthrones.com/carl-the-casual-satanist-episode-2-the-wedding/

What happens when the real Bigfoot meets a real Evil Spirit?

Tanner, a blogger at “Zelph on the Shelf” (great name, huh?) joins Jake, Matt, Randy and Scott to talk about End Times and Latter Days and Preppers and all that good stuff.

In this Froback Friday debut, the Infants discuss Randy’s awesome minisode “Homachnaphobia” — you know… where Randy compares his irrational fear of homosexuality to his irrational fear of spiders. As one does.

Infants on Thrones commemorates their three years of podcasting by talking about themselves for a change. Listen in and try to keep all eight voices straight as Bob, Glenn, Jake, John, Matt, Randy, Scott and Tom talk about minisodes, and pseudo-fame, and ideas for the future of the podcast, and nothing even possibly irreverent or offensive to anyone else in any way whatsoever.

Have you ever wondered what John C. Bennett had to say about his time in Nauvoo, his excommunication from the church, or his relationship with Joseph Smith? Have you ever wanted to read all those testimonials about treasure digging and folk magic in “Mormonism Unvailed” but just found that old book too dense and long and daunting? Have you ever been interested in early Mormon speculative theology that tries to reconcile faith with science and ends up with far out sci-fi Battlestar Galactic type explanations for things? Have you ever wished that someone would just read all those things for you and you could just listen along? Well we have. And we finally decided to do something about it. In this not-so-mini minisode, Glenn talks about his new side project Early Mormon Audio, and gives you a sneak peak into the first part of John C. Bennett’s 1842 “The History of the Saints -or- An Expose of Joe Smith and Mormonism.” Enjoy.

Tom and Glenn are joined with Kim and Adam who are both therapists to discuss Jamie’s listener essay titled, “How our Marvelous Mormon Therapist saved our marriage.”

Scott, Matt, and John discuss the importance of community with Micah, Nick, Alison, and Steve, who also discuss the motivation behind their website MormonSpectrum.org

Little Apologists aren’t the only ones who can make kinda sorta gymnastic-type little apologies. In this special minisode, Glenn explains the reason for the appearance and sudden disappearance of last Sunday’s mysterious episode “The Little Apologist.”

Glenn projects many of his Mormon-formed biases onto the One True Band: The Beatles, and compares his changing view of The Beatles to his changing view of The Mormon Church.

Jake geeks out over an exchange of blog posts between Baylor historian Philip Jenkins and Mormon apologist Bill Hamblin that gets at the heart of Book of Mormon apologetics. Hold on to your Scotch-taped glasses, folks–it’s gonna be a bumpy ride. Blogs referenced: Outliers and Iconoclasts How Consensus Changes Mormons and New World History Centrality of Hermeneutics Epistemology and Nihilism

Suffering from stone fatigue yet? Well… suffer no more (or suffer a lot more) as Jake, John, Matt, and Randy smack down the recent Mormon Ensign article “Joseph the Seer.” (Spoiler Alert: they actually all thought the article was pretty good) And if any of you are wondering “should I really listen to this episode?” John Hamer says yes.

In order to fill out the complete story of Joseph the Seer and his recently unveiled seer-stone, John, Glenn, Matt, Randy, and Jake dip into the rich historical record and read witness accounts of Joseph’s contemporaries, in a documentary minisode that “De-Romances the Stone.”

What if the emotions from Pixar’s “Inside Out” got together in a Mormon-formed brain that experienced a faith crisis? Which emotion dominates in a pre, mid, or post-faith crisis mind? Those were the questions we playfully explored in our Sunstone panel on Aug 1 at the University of Utah. Listen in as Glenn narrates and the audience chooses exactly what will become of Joy (Jake), Sadness (Scott), Disgust (Matt), Fear (John), and Anger (Randy).

Matt, Kristin, and Jake sing their praise to the world’s bestest magic seer stone. Thanks to Andrew Ainsworth for the lyrics. New LDS Hymn: Praise to the Stone VERSE 1 Praise to the stone that was found by the Prophet! For treasure seeking it first was employed Though to the buried loot it never did lead him The stone aided Joseph in a greater ploy CHORUS: Hail to the seer stone that glowed like a Lite Brite! Wizards and Hobbitses, now seek it in vain! Magically guiding the Prophet’s dictation Released from the vault now enjoys worldly fame VERSE 2 Praise to the stone that made the gold plates superfluous! No record needed, the words just appeared Nephi and Mormon their labors were wasted The stone bore their words when Joseph into it peered (CHORUS) VERSE 3 Praise to the stone in the hat of our Seer! Rock-solid proof that folk magic is real Scrying we now know is pow’red by the Priesthood True version of Saruman’s Palantir (CHORUS) VERSE 4 Praise to the stone chocolate-colored and egg-shaped! Who now can deny Brother Joseph’s great claims? How could our Prophet make up such a story? God wants our faith not the use of our brains (CHORUS)

Jake leads a discussion with Glenn, Tom, and Zach (aka “Cagelessbird” from reddit) about Zach’s interaction with several top Mesoamerican and Egyptian scholars, and their responses to his question about Book of Mormon and Book of Abraham historicity. https://pay.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/1k57o6/after_emailing_sixty_professors_receiving/

Scott (the Infant who brought you Any Opposed) explains the Mormon Genome Project. Did Joseph Smith Father any children with any of his polygamous wives? You can help answer that question. Take a listen. Check out The Mormon Genome Project for more information.

In part 2 of this amazingly ridiculous story, amazingly ridiculous things happen. Seriously. Check it out. It will almost certainly leave you wanting Moore.

What will the Infants be talking about at Sunstone this year?

As a parent who has essentially left religion behind, how do you talk about sex with your kids now that the pseudo-authority of God, Prophets, and Scriptures is no longer there to back you up? One listener sent in an “Abstinence Contract” that has made its way around some Utah high schools. Glenn talks about that Abstinence Contract with his two teenage daughters.

Scott is joined by Matt, Micah, and Anissa to discuss Anissa’s excellent Listener Essay “Oprah Made Me Do It.” Trigger Warning: This episode contains frank and detailed discussions of topics that illustrate the problem of evil and the issues the panel members were forced to consider. These issues include the evils of child pornography, child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic abuse. It is an excellent discussion. But it also pulls no punches.

Glenn gazes into his peep stone for the translation of Chapter 2. Seriously. This is totally real, you guys.

Tom and Bob are joined with Jamie and Chelsea from the Debrief Society Podcast to discuss Chelsea’s listener submitted essay titled, “Authority”. http://www.debriefsocietypodcast.com/

Thirteen years ago, Glenn wrote a super cheesy Mormon screenplay. Today, the Infants smack it down. With relish.

Another collection of excellent listener essays. From mix tapes, to silent consent of bigotry, to a real soldier’s view of Book of Mormon warfare, to homeschooling in Saudi Arabia, to Mark Hoffman and the spirit of discernment and much more, each essay had one theme in common: Independence. Happy 4th of July IOT listeners! (And RIP BKP)

Glenn, Jake, Jon, Randy, and Tom respond to a listener email: “Hey guys, what are the top 3 reasons you left the church?” So, OK, maybe it should be called 50 “reasons” to leave the church, but just go with us on this one…

If kids were confused before, imagine how confused they will be now that marriage is legal for EVERYONE!!! [insert infant cheer here] Matt, Glenn, Randy, Jake and John discuss a stupid and ignorant Meridian Magazine article and direct the stupidity and ignorance of the stupid, ignorant, (and now hopefully irrelevant) arguments against equal rights in marriage.

Randy shares a semi-fictional experience from his youth.

On June 13th, Apostle Oaks and Historian Turley delivered an anti-apostasy “here’s how to tell if you are on God’s team or NOT” fireside that people have lovingly labelled “The Boise Rescue.” Someone recorded it, posted it on reddit, and almost immediately we started getting requests for a smackdown. This has been by far the most requested smackdown in Infants on Thrones history. And by that, I mean that we have probably had about 14 people ask us to do this. FOURTEEN WHOLE PEOPLE!!! So we did it. And here it is: Jake puts together another bang-up edit for this smackdown-ish (we didn’t have an actual transcript to read from, so we were just basically winging it) panel discussion between Randy, Matt, John, Jake, Glenn, and Scott. Enjoy! Audio of the Oaks-Turley fireside can be found here: http://mormonstories.org/boise-rescue-oaks-turley/

Glenn, Matt, John, Bob and Tom respond to multiple listener requests for a follow-up discussion to our recent minisode “Lowry Nelson vs. George Albert Smith.” In other words, we talk about the institutionalized racist doctrine of the Mormon Church. http://infantsonthrones.com/lowry-nelson-vs-george-albert-smith/

Listener Mike Leavitt magnified his response to the Infant challenge and created this amazing Church House Rock parody. Listen in.

John and Glenn discuss John’s new Church House Rock parody: Priesthood Power.

Faith crisis, shmaith crisis. Come on, people — there is no valid reason to doubt the Mormon church. Ever. Cuz this one guy doesn’t. And he’s a sorta professor/researcher kind of guy who is also a reader and a writer and an Aggieland Mormon blogger guy, and none of the noise from professional skeptics has ever made him want to join them in their misery! Although today, miserable noisy Infants Jake, Tom, Glenn, Randy, and Matt decided to give him a little smackdown. And you’re invited to listen in. Enjoy. http://www.aggielandmormons.org/2015/04/my-letter-to-anyone-experiencing-faith.html

Matt presents this dramatic recreation of the Lowry Letters, a little-known 1947 exchange between Sociology Professor Lowry Nelson and President George Albert Smith regarding the official LDS doctrine on the Negro. http://mormonstories.org/other/Lowry_Nelson_1st_Presidency_Exchange.pdf

How similar are Scientology and Mormonism? What do L Ron Hubbard and Joseph Smith have in common? How about Brigham Young and David Miscavige? And when is a cult not actually a cult? Infants Bob, Glenn, John, Randy, and Scott discuss these questions as they review the recent HBO documentary Going Clear.

Glenn and Randy conduct John Hamer’s first PPI since 1991. The topics range from John’s gay childhood crushes to his gay teen-aged deconstruction of Mormonism and his current gay metaphysical explorations. Strap in for a raucous philosophical ride! It will be really really gay.

Today’s episode features three listener essays from listeners Jeff, Sara, and Chris. Cuz we have a bunch of these collecting cyber dust, and they have been sitting for a long time. So it’s time for the Infants to step aside, and let the listeners say what they gotta say.

Do Mormons really believe that the Lord God created the universe? Or that God lives on a planet called Kolob? Or that in 1978 God changed his mind about black people? Get ready for the most hard-hitting, deep-penetrating, truth-cutting-to-the-chase-of Investigative Reporting you have ever ever ever heard! Cuz the Infants are going to satirically take you through the many erroneous Truth Claims of The Book of Mormon Musical’s “I Believe.” It’s not exactly Casey Kasem calling a Monster Truck rally. But it is almost just that cool.

Tom, Jake and Matt discuss the aging church leadership. http://www.sltrib.com/home/2245029-155/with-average-age-of-80-mormon http://radiowest.kuer.org/post/age-and-leadership-lds-church http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/elder-l-tom-perry-elder-richard-g-scott-health http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865628288/Elder-Scott-unable-to-attend-meetings-of-the-Twelve-but-Elder-Perry-returns.html?pg=all http://articles.latimes.com/1993-07-31/local/me-18763_1_ezra-taft-benson

Randy leads a panel discussion about Mormon Funerals with Alison, Melissa, Glenn, and Craig.

Remember the blind kid with the dead parrot from Dumb & Dumber? He’s a Mormon. And he talks with Randy and Glenn about his experience as a child actor and his journey through faith transition. I just thought he was real quiet. Turns out, he’s not.

Randy, Matt, John and Glenn review Avi Steinberg’s “The Lost Book of Mormon: A Journey Through the Mythic Lands of Nephi, Zarahemla, and Kansas City, Missouri” – a playful look at Joseph Smith as a prolific American author. Sorry, no singing this time.

Join us for a special edition of the April 2015 General Conference. Because one weekend of General Conference just isn’t enough… without this. Special thanks to Jake, Glenn, Randy, and Bob for “assisting” the Brethren.

What happens when you stand up and vocally oppose at LDS General conference? Why would anyone even want to consider such a thing? Matt sits down with Scott, Micah, and Don — the organizers of the Any Opposed campaign — to talk about their recent vocal opposition at LDS General Conference.

What is it like to be a faithful member of the Mormon Church for 54 years before finally admitting the truth about your own sexuality? Scott, Randy, Jake and Erica join Don to discuss his powerful and personal listener essay: Man Up!

For anyone who wants to know the true history and destiny for the USofA.

Join Randy, Matt, John and Glenn for an introspective and occasionally on-tune critique of the great Mormon classic Saturday’s Warrior. It is our very first sing-a-long Smackdown: A John Hamer production. Enjoy! (we did)

Glenn gazes into his peep stone for a new translation of an old (but not THAT old) classic.

How reliable are the stories we tell ourselves about our own experiences in life? How reliable is memory? Are we simply surrounded by fiction? Glenn, Tom, and Jake talk to special guest Tierza about her excellent listener essay “Embracing Contradictions.”

Join Carl as he negotiates the angst-ridden borderlands of casual Satanism in this ongoing series. In this installment, Carl attends his sister’s wedding, where some of his worst fears are realized. Special thanks to Allison, Wendy, Matt, John, and Bob for participating.