In honor of Pioneer Day, we’re digging into what it really meant to be a pioneer woman—think managing periods and sex on the plains. I also take you on a deep dive into the lives of two prominent women: Jane Elizabeth Manning James and Mary Fielding Smith. Their stories are fascinating, complicated, and, weirdly, involve a lot of oxen. We’ll also unpack the emotional gymnastics that come with having pioneer ancestry—and how, ex-Mormon or not, we all have to reckon with the Mormon origin story. Plus, I wrap up with a little life update: how my July break went and a peek into a recent brand trip I got to take.

You can listen to the full episode on the Girlscamp: After Dark Patreon here.

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