Never-Mormon Obsessed with Mormonism? - KB Olsen | Ep. 2022

Never-Mormon Obsessed with Mormonism? - KB Olsen | Ep. 2022

Katherine Bernard (KB) Olsen is a never-mo (never Mormon) — but also one of the most devoted fans of Mormon Stories Podcast. A queer, secular journalist with deep Jewish roots and a high-fashion pedigree, Katherine has spent over 20 years captivated by the LDS Church — despite never being religious herself. In her first-ever full-length interview about her life story, she opens up about her lifelong curiosity with Mormonism, identity, belief, and American culture.


KB's impressive journalism career includes work at Vogue, New York Times, and other top-tier New York publications. After moving from Maryland to attend NYU for journalism, she found herself drawn not only to art and culture — but also to spirituality, history, and the paradoxes of organized religion. Over the years, her interest in Mormonism became a deep and serious intellectual pursuit.


What You'll Hear in This Interview:

-Her upbringing in a secular household in Maryland

-Her exploration of Jewish identity and eventual conversion

-Her first exposure to Mormonism through South Park, Big Love, and The Book of Mormon musical

-Her emotional journey coming out as gay in a non-supportive environment

-Her reflections on shame, logic, identity, and community

-Her nuanced take on Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and Mormon reality TV

-Her insights into conditioning, religious extremism, and spiritual seeking


This episode is a masterclass in curiosity — how someone with no personal ties to the LDS Church became one of its most thoughtful outside observers. KB explores Mormonism not as a critic or a believer, but as a seeker with a journalist’s eye.

___________________


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Show Notes


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Avsnitt(2099)

022: Black and Mormon -- The Darron Smith Story Pt. 1

022: Black and Mormon -- The Darron Smith Story Pt. 1

In part 1 of a 3 part series, we interview Darron Smith--a black man who joined the LDS church as a teenager in Tennessee. After serving a mission for the LDS Church and graduating from the University of Utah, Darron began a 10 year teaching career at church-owned Brigham Young University. After 10 years of teaching at BYU, Darron's employment was terminated in response to (according to Darron) his public writings and speaking--wherein Darron openly called for the LDS Church to apologize for, and renounce the racists statements of past Church leaders. In this series, Darron discusses his upbringing in the Church, provides a brief history of Blacks within the Church, discusses his termination from BYU, and his hopes for the LDS Church in the future with regard to these issues.

19 Okt 200753min

021: Mormon, Married, Gay and Facing Discipline--An Interview with Buckley Jeppson Pt. 3

021: Mormon, Married, Gay and Facing Discipline--An Interview with Buckley Jeppson Pt. 3

In part 3 of a 3 part interview, we interview Buckley Jeppson. Buckley, 57, says he's been informed verbally by a senior church leader that his life is incompatible with the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that a disciplinary council will soon address the matter. Jeppson, of Washington, D.C., married Mike Kessler in Toronto on Aug. 27, 2004. It is believed that if Jeppson is excommunicated, it would be the first time a Mormon in a legal, same-sex marriage was punished by the church. Jeppson claims that over the past five months Nolan Archibald, his Stake President and CEO of Black and Decker, has encouraged him to resign his church membership, which would avoid disciplinary action.

19 Okt 200741min

020: Mormon, Married, Gay and Facing Discipline--An Interview with Buckley Jeppson Pt. 2

020: Mormon, Married, Gay and Facing Discipline--An Interview with Buckley Jeppson Pt. 2

In part 2 of a 3 part interview, we interview Buckley Jeppson. Buckley, 57, says he's been informed verbally by a senior church leader that his life is incompatible with the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that a disciplinary council will soon address the matter. Jeppson, of Washington, D.C., married Mike Kessler in Toronto on Aug. 27, 2004. It is believed that if Jeppson is excommunicated, it would be the first time a Mormon in a legal, same-sex marriage was punished by the church. Jeppson claims that over the past five months Nolan Archibald, his Stake President and CEO of Black and Decker, has encouraged him to resign his church membership, which would avoid disciplinary action.

19 Okt 200744min

019: Mormon, Married, Gay and Facing Discipline--An Interview with Buckley Jeppson Pt. 1

019: Mormon, Married, Gay and Facing Discipline--An Interview with Buckley Jeppson Pt. 1

In part 1 of a 3 part interview, we interview Buckley Jeppson. Buckley, 57, says he's been informed verbally by a senior church leader that his life is incompatible with the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that a disciplinary council will soon address the matter. Jeppson, of Washington, D.C., married Mike Kessler in Toronto on Aug. 27, 2004. It is believed that if Jeppson is excommunicated, it would be the first time a Mormon in a legal, same-sex marriage was punished by the church. Jeppson claims that over the past five months Nolan Archibald, his Stake President and CEO of Black and Decker, has encouraged him to resign his church membership, which would avoid disciplinary action.

19 Okt 200740min

018: New Order Mormons Pt. 1: Ann's Story

018: New Order Mormons Pt. 1: Ann's Story

In part 1 of a 2 part series, we interview Ann--a pleasant, yet forceful presence in the bloggernacle, and leader within New Order Mormonism. According to the New Order Mormon Website,"New Order Mormons are those who no longer believe some (or much) of the dogma or doctrines of the LDS church, but who want to maintain membership for cultural and social reasons."

19 Okt 200755min

014: An Introduction to Mormon Polygamy with Todd Compton Pt. 3

014: An Introduction to Mormon Polygamy with Todd Compton Pt. 3

In part 3 of a 3 part series, we interview Todd Compton about the basics of polygamy in the Mormon church. Todd Compton is the author of the book In Sacred Loneliness.

19 Okt 200736min

013: An Introduction to Mormon Polygamy with Todd Compton Pt. 2

013: An Introduction to Mormon Polygamy with Todd Compton Pt. 2

In part 2 of a 3 part series, we interview Todd Compton about the basics of polygamy in the Mormon church. Todd Compton is the author of the book In Sacred Loneliness.

19 Okt 200733min

011: Finding our Way Back Home Pt. 2

011: Finding our Way Back Home Pt. 2

In part 2 of this interview, we continue our conversation with Serenity Valley and Roasted Tomatoes-a young LDS couple living in the San Francisco Bay area, and creators of the LDS Blog Latter-Day Saint Liberation Front. In this episode, Serenity and RT discuss her ultimate return to Mormonism, the impact it has had on their marriage and family, and conclude with a very candid and somewhat courageous discussion of their testimonies-some of which can safely be considered non-mainstream or alternative within the LDS paradigm.

19 Okt 200745min

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