Looks Like Wandering

When I recorded S2 E9 in September 2021, I was still a member of the LDS Church (albeit nuanced and with a foot out). Shortly after, I stepped away from the church. It finally feels like time to talk about it, and wrap up this season of the LLW Podcast. I brought back special guest Kathryn Hadsall, who we last spoke to in S2 E5 ("Strengthening Mixed-Faith Relationships"), to talk about leaving the LDS Church, and our view from this side of our journeys. You can find me on Instagram @allieabarnes, or at allieabarnes.com. Episode intro music by Allie Ink.

We're pivoting a bit, and will be talking a bit more about the value of personalizing our faith. I figure reading a chapter directly out of my book, "Not According to Plan," would help introduce this concept, as the chapter (4) specifically shares my journey to better understand my relationship with my body, intimacy, sin, and repentance. I count it as one of the first times I began to think critically about the things I was taught, and find what works for me. It's a process that I've continued over the last couple years, and that has helped strengthen my testimony. You can find "Not According to Plan" on Amazon (by me, Allie Barnes). Find Looks Like Wandering on Instagram @lookslikewandering.

Today we're talking to artist M. Alice Abrams about why it's okay to be a "Cafeteria Mormon." Due to MANY technical difficulties, the episode cuts off a bit earlier than we would have liked, but there are still so many gems in this conversation. And who knows—maybe there will be a part 2 sometime! Follow Alice on Instagram at @aliceisms_illustration. Find the podcast on Instagram @lookslikewandering or at lookslikewandering.com.

In today's solo episode, I share about what I've been contemplating and exploring over the last couple years—and especially the last few weeks: "I think that's a huge part of why we were sent here to earth—to use our agency, to make our decisions, to think critically, to counsel with our Heavenly Parents, and find the paths that are right for us." I also mention the principle of "fence laws" that I read about from an excerpt in John Hilton III's book "The Founder of Our Peace." Find the podcast on Instagram @lookslikewandering or on lookslikewandering.com.

I am SO HAPPY to be a guest on my dear friend @melissabuckleywrites's new podcast, The Articulate Women Podcast, available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more! Our conversation is split into two episodes: Ep. 3, How Trusting Strange Promptings Can Strengthen Our Faith, and Ep. 4, A Faith Crisis vs. A Culture Crisis. These episodes were recorded back in early November 2020, so my faith journey definitely continued between that conversation and this season of the Looks Like Wandering Podcast (where I talk about my faith crisis again in S2 E1, as you may recall). Because of that, I consider S1 E4 of The Articulate Women Podcast to be the prequel to S2 E1 of the Looks Like Wandering Podcast. Head on over to The Articulate Women Podcast to hear our conversation and more!

Today we're chatting with Emily LeBaron (@shoplivingforhope) about how she navigated a faith crisis after returning home early from her mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She talks about her struggles with accepting the decision of leaders to send her home, and her own decision to remain home after health concerns had improved. She shares about tender mercies from God and finding her path. And at the very end, she shares her thoughts on how to open up a conversation with loved ones who have returned home early from their missions. You can find Emily on Instagram @shoplivingforhope, where she shares her beautiful designs and products advocating for mental health awareness. Head on over to MY Instagram @lookslikewandering to find a discount code for her shop this week! Thanks so much, Emily!

Today we're chatting about strengthening and nurturing healthy mixed-faith relationships in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Special thanks to Nikki Johnson, LeAndra Baker, and Kathryn Hadsall for sharing your experiences and insight with us! Show notes at lookslikewandering.com or allieabarnes.com.

Today we are chatting with one of my dearest friends, Maddison Weber, about her transition away from the Reformed Presbyterian Church that she was grew up in. While she shares advice to those going through a faith transition, some of her most powerful words are to those watching their loved ones go through it. She invites listeners to change their perception, and keep loving people even when their choices are different than the listener's.

Today we're chatting with my friend Ezekiel Rudick, who left the LDS Church in his early 20's. Ezekiel shares about his spiritual journey, the impact it had on his family, and how they worked to heal their relationships. He also shares some great advice for those going through their own faith journey. Throughout the entire conversation, there is a beautiful tone of compassion. I hope you feel that too! You can find Ezekiel at youngelkband.com.

FRIENDS!! I am so happy to be talking to Nikki Johnson of @bridgetheldsgap today. In this episode, Nikki shares about her decision to leave the LDS church, the importance of boundaries, and how to create healthy conversations about those boundaries with loved ones. I am SO grateful for her willingness to share. Find Nikki on Instagram @bridgetheldsgap, and be sure to follow @lookslikewandering as well for podcast updates!

Welcome to Season 2! This season, instead of career paths or life paths, we are specifically talking about navigating faith journeys and transitions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (though I believe the things we talk about in this season can be applied to many different denominations). In this episode, I share about my own faith journey, and why I ultimately decided to stay in the church. In upcoming interviews, this will NOT be our focus, but I want to help normalize faith journeys, doubts, and questioning- and show that you CAN experience these things and remain active in the church. Then I'm going to share about my views on how to show Christlike love and support to friends and family members who decide to leave. THAT will be the focus of this season. For updates, follow me on Instagram @lookslikewandering. Find the show notes at allieabarnes.com or lookslikewandering.com.

We're talking to Jayne Preciado of @habitual.joy on Instagram. She shares her story of moving abroad to China to teach earlier this year, then having to leave suddenly upon rumors of the borders closing because of COVID-19. We talk about how to cope when things don't go according to plan, about finding joy in the season we're in, and more! Thank you so much for joining us, Jayne! - AllieFollow @lookslikewandering on Instagram and find us on lookslikewandering.com for more!

Our first podcast VIDEO! I'm your host Allie Barnes and I'm joined today by Melissa Buckley, who was also on episode 2 of the podcast. We talk about the changes we've experienced through COVID-19, adapting, loneliness, depression, silver linings, and ice cream!Visit lookslikewandering.com and follow us on Instagram @lookslikewandering.

A greater explanation of the shift that Looks Like Wandering is going through! We are focusing on JOY, and finding and cultivating joy in our everyday lives. Please share your little moments of joy on your Instagram and tag us in it + use the hashtag #lookslikefindingjoy. This video is also on IGTV, so if you'd rather watch than listen, head on over to our Instagram @lookslikewandering. Thanks for listening and being a part of this growing community, friends!

Today's mini episode is part 2 of the FIRST mini episode, where I talk about identifying three things to do every day to fill my own cup. I share what those started as, and how they've evolved over the past few weeks of social distancing.You can find the LLW Podcast on Instagram and Facebook (@lookslikewandering). If you like what you hear, please consider sharing this episode with a friend!Thanks, as always, to the band Starover Blue for our intro music. It's from their song Janeway, and it's one of my favorites!

In this episode, we're hearing from YOU! We hear from @kirieouscooking, a healthcare worker, Emma (@poemsbymom) from episode 3, a high school student, and the wife of an Utah based RN recently sent to New York to help COVID-19 patients.Thanks so much to everyone who contributed to this episode. You can connect with everyone on Instagram @lookslikewandering. Let's all stay healthy and safe!

Hey friends, today we're hearing from 6 individuals, plus myself, about how we're all handling the changes that have come with the COVID-19 pandemic, including social distancing, homeschooling, graduations cancelled, and more. Hearing these friends' experiences helps me feel less alone, and I hope you feel similar relief.I apologize for the sound quality. Believe it or not, it's pretty hard to properly mix 6 different voicemails, plus my own audio, PLUS compose a little ditty and get that in there as well. It may help to listen to this through headphones instead of while driving in a car, but do what works for you. I hope the message still gets across, even if some of the messages are a little fuzzy. If you do want to skip ahead, know that each phone call is under 3 minutes long, so it shouldn't be hard to skip to the next.Share your own story @lookslikewandering on Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for being here, and I hope you are safe, healthy, and finding peace.

Life has been so odd lately, as we talked a bit about in the last episode (#15). Today I share the value in letting yourself have a hard day, then climbing back up. I share some insights from listeners who shared the things they do to make a hard day better. If you're having a hard day/week/month, let yourself feel it, then keep going. Don't give up.Want to feel more hope during this time? Search YouTube for "President Nelson Shares Message of Hope during Coronavirus Outbreak." One of my favorite quotes in this video from Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is his assurance, "I am optimistic about the future." I am holding to these words.

Today we're chatting with my amazing mom, Julie Barnes, as she shares her journey through some difficult health challenges over the last few years. Even if you are in good health, she shares so many valuable insights for adapting to unexpected changes and difficulties in life. More info, including more details on the health conditions she's experienced, in the show notes at lookslikewandering.com. Thanks so much, mama! I love you!

Feeling down about Covid-19? Don't forget to look for the good. Follow Looks Like Wandering on Facebook and Instagram @lookslikewandering. Come back Monday for a new episode!

In this episode we're talking to Jenny Furse, host of the podcast Of Progress and Purpose. She shares her journey to becoming a podcaster, and also talks a bit about her partnership with her husband in this project, and the values that they share together on their podcast. More info in the show notes at lookslikewandering.com. Thanks so much, Jenny!

"I am not superstitious, but I'm a little 'stitious." -Michael Scott, The Office.Apologies. Go on ahead to episode 14. You'll love it!

Welcome to the first mini mid-week episode of the Looks Like Wandering Podcast! Today we're chatting about the 3 components that make up a great day for me (which is also the topic of my upcoming article on Healthy Humans Project / healthyhumansproject.com), and I invite YOU to find the components of YOUR great day! Come back Monday for the next full episode of Looks Like Wandering.

This title is inaccurate, because Kendall Sallay-Milotz is both a copywriter AND lead vocalist in a dream pop band, and she is incredible at both! (Case in point, her band, Starover Blue, plays the intro song for this podcast!) In this episode, Kendall shares how she balances a full time job with pursuing her passion for music, and gives thoughtful advice for those who want to do the same! Show notes are available at lookslikewandering.com, and you can find Starover Blue at staroverblue.com. Thanks, Kendall!

Back from my little break to tell you that I'm organizing an event this month in Beaver, Utah for women entrepreneurs! And another little project I'm working on. More info at lookslikewandering.com and @lookslikewandering on Instagram and Facebook.

Today we're chatting with Tanner Rahlf, a comedian and up and coming fashion designer in Utah! Tanner shares his journey from graphic design student to (I don't want to give away the twists, so you should listen) to comedian, and gives solid advice to those who want to try out comedy—or really who just want to try anything new and out of their comfort zone. I left this conversation feeling inspired, and I hope it brings you a similar joy! Show notes available at lookslikewandering.com. Thanks so much, Tanner! Check back next Monday for the next episode!

When Megan Geilman was growing up, she hoped to someday be a mom and an artist—both! She can now confidently say she's both. After taking years off to begin a family, Megan has made her mark in the Provo, Utah art scene, having her award winning pieces displayed in both solo and group shows. In this interview she shares about studying art education in college, coming back into the art scene years later, finding her style, and making the leap from art as a hobby to a career. Check the show notes at lookslikewandering.com to see some of the pieces she's done, and be sure to follow Megan on Instagram at @megan.knobloch.geilman.

In this episode, I share about my 3 favorite presentations at the Silicon Slopes Tech Summit last weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah. I'll share about author Patrick Lencioni's presentation about "The Ideal Team Player" (which he shares more about in his book of the same name), a presentation about "Igniting a Career Design" hosted by leaders at Adobe, and "How Diversity Leads to Innovation," by Trisha Price, the Chief Product Officer at nCino. Show notes online at lookslikewandering.com. And a huge thanks to Carine Clark and Southern Utah University for helping me get to Silicon Slopes Tech Summit this year!

Suzy Jordan, founder of Affirmed Co., shares a bit about her career journey (beginning as a personal trainer)—but more importantly, shares her journey from struggling with severe depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, to becoming a mental health advocate and business owner. She shares how her hobby for hand-lettering and her own personal healing work inspired her to make a product to help others change their own mindsets through affirmations. You can find Suzy at affirmedco.com and on Instagram @affirmedco. Show notes, a discount for LLW Podcast listeners, and mental health resources available at lookslikewandering.com.If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, or any other type of low point, please reach out and get help. You are loved and you are worth it. I promise. Stick with us. And as Suzy said in the interview, “I firmly believe that the experiences we go through are not only for our benefit, but are for the benefit of other people as well. We can use our experience to give hope to others.” I wholeheartedly agree.

Today we're chatting with Chelsea Bench, host of the Confidence in Business Podcast. In this podcast, she shares about how she went from unsure about her career path and unable to find the resources she was looking for, to an advocate for other women wanting to break into business. Show notes available at lookslikewandering.com, and you can find Chelsea @confidenceinbusiness on Instagram and Facebook!

Episode 5 is a SOLO EPISODE with your host, Allie! Complete with bloopers, real life creaky house scares, but mostly insights into my own journey to find my career path. I also give some updates on my recent move, new job, and some new features on lookslikewandering.com. If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and/or share it with a friend! You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @lookslikewandering. Show notes on lookslikewandering.com. Check back next Monday morning for the next episode! Thanks for being here, friends!

Nicole Hock of -Osis Earrings is no stranger to health conditions—aside from being a radiologic technologist (“rad tech”), Nicole has Type 1 Diabetes, Hashimoto’s disease, and struggled with an eating disorder for 8 years. Her passion for healthcare and helping others turned to a business when she began creating polymer clay earrings modeled after aspects of different health conditions. I LOVE THIS. In this episode, we dive deeper into Nicole’s story and what inspired her (despite believing her entire life that she wasn’t particularly creative) to use her creative skills for good. You can find Nicole and -Osis Earrings on Instagram @osisearrings and on Etsy. A portion of all proceeds from all of her sales are donated to related foundations. More information and show notes are available at lookslikewandering.com.Through the end of January 2020, listeners can use the code WINTER10 for 10% off their order on the -Osis Earrings Etsy page. Thanks so much, Nicole!

In this episode, we're chatting with Emma (Black) Walz: script supervisor, mom, poet (@poemsbymom), and my cousin! She shares about her path to becoming a script supervisor, insights into the film industry, and her struggle shifting from working in a high-energy full time career to staying at home with a newborn baby. Keep listening because she also spills a big secret! Show notes available at lookslikewandering.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @lookslikewandering. Check back Monday morning for the next episode!

In the second episode of the Looks Like Wandering Podcast, we talk to Melissa Buckley about her journey as a professional Culinary and Pastry Chef to a religious nonfiction writer—and everything that led to both of those. We touch on her interests growing up, fulfilling her dream of attending Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, working conditions as a professional chef, and more. And she shares the moments that led her to becoming a writer, even if they were not evident at the time. Thanks Melissa! Full show notes available for this episode at lookslikewandering.com. Follow Looks Like Wandering on Instagram and Facebook @lookslikewandering.

From musician to social worker to human resources manager—Many young professionals are wandering earlier in their careers to find what they truly want to do. In the first episode of the Looks Like Wandering Podcast, host Allie shares her professional path and how it led her to this podcast. In future episodes, we'll be talking to other young professionals about their own education and career paths. It just goes to show, "it may look like wandering, but it’s very intentional." (That's our tagline, by the way). Welcome to the podcast!Follow Looks Like Wandering on Instagram and Facebook @lookslikewandering. You can find the show notes at lookslikewandering.com. Episodes 1-3 are live on January 1, 2020, so keep listening! New episodes are available every Monday.