Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Today on Mormon Stories Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Brad Reedy, therapist, author, and founder of “Finding You Intensives”, to discuss his remarkable journey through faith, spirituality, addiction, and personal growth. We are also very glad to be joined by Samantha Shelly (from Zelph on the Shelf) for this uplifting conversation.
Raised outside of religion, Brad spent much of his youth searching for meaning and belonging. After struggling with substance abuse as a teenager and surviving a near-fatal overdose, he encountered Mormonism and found the structure, community, and spiritual direction had been missing from his life.
As his understanding of faith evolved, Brad found himself wrestling with questions about spirituality, identity, parenting, relationships, and what it means to live authentically. Together, we explore the tension between religion and spirituality, the challenges of faith transitions, and why something that once helped a person thrive may no longer fit later in life.
Brad shares his experience as a passionate convert, missionary, BYU student, and later a marriage and family therapist. Along the way, he reflects on the strengths and limitations of high-demand religions, the role that structure can play in healing and growth, and the difference between living from guilt versus living from love.
This conversation is a thoughtful exploration of transformation, self-discovery, and the ongoing search for meaning beyond certainty.
Show notes can be found on the Mormon Stories blog here: mormonstories.org/how-a-mormon-therapist-lost-his-faith
Timecodes:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:03:03 - Brad’s story begins
00:11:10 - Marijuana and LSD
00:15:36 - High School years
00:18:52 - Overdose at 17
00:20:55 - Psychedelics
00:25:40 - Converted to Mormonism
00:31:10 - Firesides with Donny Osmond
00:33:22 - Mission service
00:36:22 - Pros and cons mission structure
00:45:13 - Engaged at BYU
00:57:00 - Marriage and Family Therapy
01:05:25 - BYU rules
01:08:29 - Faith Crisis
01:18:17 - Gold told him to leave
01:22:28 - Second marriage
01:33:36 - Eastern Gods vs Christian God
02:00:50 - Healthy Mormonism
02:08:05 - Parenting
02:24:10 - Co-dependency
02:29:35 - Leaving the church
02:38:26 - Life since leaving
02:47:15 - Samatha’s final thoughts
02:49:05 - Brad’s final thoughts
02:56:57 - Conclusion
___________________
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Today on Mormon Stories Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Brad Reedy, therapist, author, and founder of “Finding You Intensives”, to discuss his remarkable journey through faith, spirituality, addiction, and personal growth. We are also very glad to be joined by Samantha Shelly (from Zelph on the Shelf) for this uplifting conversation.
Raised outside of religion, Brad spent much of his youth searching for meaning and belonging. After struggling with substance abuse as a teenager and surviving a near-fatal overdose, he encountered Mormonism and found the structure, community, and spiritual direction had been missing from his life.
As his understanding of faith evolved, Brad found himself wrestling with questions about spirituality, identity, parenting, relationships, and what it means to live authentically. Together, we explore the tension between religion and spirituality, the challenges of faith transitions, and why something that once helped a person thrive may no longer fit later in life.
Brad shares his experience as a passionate convert, missionary, BYU student, and later a marriage and family therapist. Along the way, he reflects on the strengths and limitations of high-demand religions, the role that structure can play in healing and growth, and the difference between living from guilt versus living from love.
This conversation is a thoughtful exploration of transformation, self-discovery, and the ongoing search for meaning beyond certainty.
Show notes can be found on the Mormon Stories blog here: mormonstories.org/how-a-mormon-therapist-lost-his-faith
Timecodes:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:03:03 - Brad’s story begins
00:11:10 - Marijuana and LSD
00:15:36 - High School years
00:18:52 - Overdose at 17
00:20:55 - Psychedelics
00:25:40 - Converted to Mormonism
00:31:10 - Firesides with Donny Osmond
00:33:22 - Mission service
00:36:22 - Pros and cons mission structure
00:45:13 - Engaged at BYU
00:57:00 - Marriage and Family Therapy
01:05:25 - BYU rules
01:08:29 - Faith Crisis
01:18:17 - Gold told him to leave
01:22:28 - Second marriage
01:33:36 - Eastern Gods vs Christian God
02:00:50 - Healthy Mormonism
02:08:05 - Parenting
02:24:10 - Co-dependency
02:29:35 - Leaving the church
02:38:26 - Life since leaving
02:47:15 - Samatha’s final thoughts
02:49:05 - Brad’s final thoughts
02:56:57 - Conclusion
___________________
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
