Welcome to Breaking Down Patriarchy. I'm Amy McPhee All the Best.

Earlier this year, our podcast began a project of collecting, publishing, and elevating people's stories about patriarchy.

And when we got word out that we were soliciting contributions, we received an overflow of messages from women raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

who wanted to contribute.

This podcast is not in any way specific to Mormonism, and I've tried really hard to recruit

diverse voices.

But at the same time, many listeners find the podcast because of work I've done in the Mormon

feminist space.

And so we do have a high percentage of content that represents that one specific faith tradition,

especially on season two where we were relying on people's contributions.

And we are so grateful for all the stories that found their way to us,

including those that have their roots in highly patriarchal religions like

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In today's episode, we'll be featuring three such stories.

First, we'll hear from Courtney McPhee, as well as an anonymous contributor.

But first, we're going to be joined by Ashley May Hoyland, who shares reflections on her

formative memories discussing girlhood's delicate wildness and the critical need for all of us

to listen to our bodies. To introduce her properly, Ashley May Hoyland is the brilliant author

of 100 Birds Taught Me to Fly, a new constellation, and several children's books. She also has a book

being released in installments on substack right now called Letters to a Leaving Mormon, which I highly

recommend for anyone in a faith transition from any high-demand religion. Ashley lives in

Provo, Utah with her three kids, her geologist husband, her dog, and bearded

...