Hidden True Crime's Lauren Matthias Pt. 1 - Early Years and Journalism Career | Ep. 2040
Mormon Stories Podcast
Dr. John Dehlin
4.6 • 5.2K Ratings
🗓️ 14 July 2025
⏱️ 233 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this powerful and emotional episode, journalist Lauren tells her Mormon story publicly for the first time. Known for covering others’ experiences—including the high-profile Lori Vallow Daybell trial—Lauren now opens up about her own journey through faith, trauma, resilience, and healing.She shares her upbringing in the LDS Church, the influence of her legally blind father, and her early fears around death that led to a fascination with true crime. Lauren details her mission to Ohio, her shock upon learning about polygamy, and her love for investigative storytelling.The story takes deeply personal turns as she opens up about receiving a misdiagnosis of Stargardt disease, her father’s arrest and trial, her own struggles with mental health, sexual assault, marriage trauma, and the challenges of being a Mormon woman in journalism.From painful experiences to moments of empowerment in her career and community, Lauren’s account is raw, inspiring, and unflinchingly honest.Hear about her upcoming memoirStay for the vulnerable reflectionsSupport Lauren’s journey by watching to the end___________________
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | How does a Mormon woman become a true crime superstar? |
| 0:05.0 | Hello everyone, welcome to Mormon Stories podcast. |
| 0:07.0 | I'm your host, Sean DeLynne. |
| 0:09.0 | It is July 2nd, and today we're so excited. |
| 0:12.0 | I've been waiting for years for this interview, |
| 0:15.0 | but we have with us in studio back for those familiar with Mormon stories. |
| 0:18.0 | We have the Lauren Matthias to tell us her epic story of how she went again from a young woman to raised Mormon to the super popular world-renowned Hidden True Crime podcast with her husband, Dr. John. And Lauren, we're so happy to have you. |
| 0:39.8 | I'm happy to be here, nervous but happy. |
| 0:43.5 | What do you think, Mindy's superstar, true crime superstar? |
| 0:46.1 | Absolutely. |
| 0:47.2 | Great description. |
| 0:48.5 | And if you all don't know, we also have back with us in studio part of our dream team. |
| 0:53.7 | We have Mindy Caldwell back as my co-host |
| 0:56.0 | for today. Hey, Mindy. Hi. So happy to be here. Yeah, I think us combined with Megan are maybe best |
| 1:02.7 | known in the Mormon Stories family for our coverage of Visions of Glory, Chad DeBell, Lori Vallow, |
| 1:12.7 | Jody Hildebrandt, Ruby Frankie. |
| 1:17.6 | We've covered a lot of those stories, which you've also covered on Hidden True Crime podcast. |
| 1:18.4 | But I guess we have to say, we love you, Megan. |
| 1:21.1 | Is that fair to say as well? |
| 1:22.5 | We miss Megan. |
| 1:24.1 | The band doesn't feel the same without Megan here. |
| 1:26.4 | So we got part of the band back together. |
... |
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