Wannabe Balanced | Mormon Enlightenment | Post LDS
Summary: This podcast started out as a self help podcast for moms trying to find balance in motherhood and business but morphed into a documentation of Crystal and Sean Escobar's journey out of the Mormon church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). The Podcast has been therapeutic on so many levels for its hosts. They vulnerably share their pitfalls and triumphs as they work to deconstruct a lifetime of indoctrination from the LDS church which they exited in the Spring of 2018. Sexual shame, marriage, parenting, science, spirituality, personal development, healing, sex abuse, are some of the topics they focus on. Together, the Escobars founded the Mormon Enlightenment community on Facebook which they started in August of 2018. One year later there was 3500 members. Participating in the community has proven to be the silver lining to an otherwise traumatic experience. Mormon Enlightement is also comprised of an Instagram page, and YouTube channel. They feel passionate about doing their part among many amazing pioneers like John Dehlin, who featured them on Mormon Stories Podcast. Their goal around all of this is to normalize leaving the church, and to make it safe and acceptable for their children to be non-Mormon in a predominantly Mormon world. Crystal and Sean Escobar are down to earth people who grew up in the heart of Mormonism in the Salt Lake Valley. They were married in 2004 and have 4 children. In 2007, they became the youngest millionaires in Isagenix, an international health and wellness company. Having achieved unparalleled success in their industry, they were able to retire at the age of 35. Since 2011 they have divided their time between living half the year in Salt Lake and the other half in Saint George. Crystal’s family is pioneer stock. She served a mission to Germany in 2002. What is curious is that as of 2019, the majority of her side of the family, which is quite large, is out of the Church. Crystal is the founder of the Wannabe Balanced brand, which has presence on all social media platforms, as well as an ongoing podcast, a Blog and periodic Live Events. She is also a published author of the book “My Life as a WannaBeBalanced Mom” and has been featured on many local news media stations. Sean’s parents were both first generation converts. Sean’s family, much smaller in comparison, are all still very active and believing. In February of 2018 Sean published a recording between him and the man who had sexually abused him as a child in 1993. That same year the abuse took place, Sean’s perpetrator was offered employment at BYU and stayed on as a Professor of Film for 6 years immediately thereafter. That man enjoyed a prestigious professional career as an LDS Film maker and was also the Director of the most recent Temple Endowment Videos. Those videos were hastily abandoned by the Church one month prior to the story breaking. The 25 year old abuser story went viral and was featured on the cover of the New York Times. Another victim, a child, came forward and the perpetrator was sentenced to 6 years to life in prison in the summer of 2019. Sean has become a powerful advocate for stoping child sexual abuse by giving victims the courage to come forward.
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Trigger Warning. If you've experienced sexual trauma, some of the things we discuss in this episode may trigger unwanted emotions to surface. Natasha Helfer Parker, a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist coaches Sean and I through sexual shame and trauma. Natasha has 20 years experience counseling individuals, couples, and families. Her areas of expertise includes working within the intersections of faith, life transitions and sexuality.
"Your story could be the key that unlocks someone else's prison. Don't be afraid to share it." ~ Toby Mac Last week Sean shared his story and this week I'm sharing mine.
Sean Escobar is one of the bravest men I know. He continues to amaze me with his courage and deep love for others. He is truly saving other victims and is an incredible example of how one person being brave enough to speak up can pave the way for others to do the same.
Sean speaks on how he operated as a reformed whore, how he became fanatical and critical for many years. Definition of a reformed whore: A person who once practiced a bad habit egregiously who now rails hypocritically against other people practicing the same bad habit.
Getting real up close and personal about the things that have kept me from fully embracing my sexuality. Years of shame and guilt caused me to suppress my true sexual nature. Only recently have I discovered an exciting and healthy way of expressing my love more fully toward Sean.
Sean and I get REALLY real in this episode. Sharing some things we never thought we'd be able to share.
As most of you know, I just published my very first book. In the process of doing this I've come to meet so many people who too would like to write a book. I believe we all have a story to share, and many of you would love to share your story in a book. So this episode is for YOU! It's time to take the next step, and begin writing that book that's dying to get out. Meet New York Times Best Selling Author, Pete Cerqua. He shares some insider tips on how to write your book and get it published.
In this episode I'm reading the unedited version of Chapter 6, The Breakdown Before the Breakthrough. So excited my book is now available at Costco, Deseret Book, Amazon, Barns and Noble.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com.
After months of going through and processing all the emotions that come with an existential crisis, Sean and I are happy to have arrived into a new, more positive emotion of love and gratitude for our experience growing up in a religion.
Singer songwriter Mindy Gledhill shares her faith crisis experience that inspired her new album Rabbit Hole.
I wanted to show you what my daily morning routine looks like, as well as give you a FREE printable. It’s just a little helpful guide for you to use as part of your morning rituals. Get your printable HERE.
Sean and I are realizing our past approach to parenting may be the effect of unconscious thinking. Doing what has always been done without ever really questioning WHY. Not allowing space for new ideas to emerge, new ways of viewing our children and the role we are playing in their lives. Maybe our children are here to teach US instead of the other way around. Their ability to show us things about ourselves should be approached with great respect and reverence.
Eduardo Ballesteros shares his story growing up as a Mormon then choosing a different spiritual path as he began seeking further light and healing. He is now helping others heal and grow spiritually as a Yoga Instructor and Crystal Bowl Sound Healing Practitioner. Sound healing relaxes the body, clears the subconscious, calms the mind, and activates your body's natural healing systems. Resulting in a sense of expanded awareness and wholeness.
The conscious mind is only the tip of the ice-burg. Below the water exists something so vast and majestic that you can't help but want to explore it. I've recently gained a new understanding and appreciation for the unconscious mind, the mind that takes over while we sleep. In this episode I dive a little deeper into the purpose of dreams and how you can use them to discover new insights, gain clarity, creativity, solutions to your problems, and access inovative ideas.
"You must decide in your life, are you looking for solace, or a solution? If you're looking for solace I will tell you a nice story. If you're looking for a solution, then never ask beyond your present level of experience, because you will be forced to believe me or disbelieve me. It will not solve anything for you." ~Sadhguru
