Katie talks with historian Lindsay Hansen Park—executive director of the Sunstone Education Foundation, host of Year of Polygamy, and a friend since they were both Mormon feminist bloggers in the early 2010s—about why one person's deconstruction sets off so much anxiety in a family and culture.

Lindsay's research into Mormon fundamentalism has helped her trace those patterns back to where they come from—from frontier survivalism to deep sexual shame—and explore how they're still operative in people's lives.

Whether you come from Mormonism or other high-demand, fundamentalist traditions, Lindsay offers insights that are both compassionate and challenging for everyone whose gone through a faith deconstruction.

The full unedited conversation with Lindsay is available to subscribers at katielangston.com/podcast.

Lindsay Hansen Park

• Sunstone Education Foundation — sunstone.org
• Year of Polygamy podcast — yearofpolygamy.com
• The Ballad of Juanita Brooks — balladofjuanita.com. Lindsay's forthcoming biography, on sale December 30, 2026.
• Historical consultant, Under the Banner of Heaven (FX) and American Primeval (Netflix)

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Lindsay Hansen Park's journey

00:28 The influence of rural Mormon communities and fundamentalism

06:01 The role of shame and control in Mormon culture

07:59 Disruption of faith and the path to personal growth

11:52 The similarities between fundamentalist and mainstream Mormonism

15:05 The use of shame as a control mechanism

17:52 The impact of purity culture and temple system

21:07 Leaving Mormonism and the emotional upheaval

24:57 The importance of boundaries and therapy in healing

29:59 Reframing shame and embracing personal resilience

35:01 The future of Mormon culture and language around leaving

37:15 Final thoughts on growth, resilience, and self-trust