Architecture of Abuse

Attorney Tim Kosnoff breaks down what it means to file a legal claim as a survivor of abuse. With over four decades of experience representing victims within institutions like the LDS Church, Tim offers a concrete and reassuring look at what to expect, from overcoming the fear of making the first phone call to the possibility of a settlement. He addresses common myths and fears, explains key legal terms, and clarifies...

What does healing look like after childhood sexual abuse, especially within systems that have long minimized, moralized, or silenced it? In this episode, we hear from LCSW Malia Burgess, alongside Dr. Julie Hanks and LMFT Natasha Helfer, as well as constitutional law professor, Marci Hamilton, as they unpack the messy, nonlinear, and deeply personal process of healing. From therapy access and cultural shame to Church-...

This candid Deep Dive with therapist and Encircle’s Director of Clinical Operations, Malia Burgess, takes us on a three-part journey: into the past that shaped us, the present we must reckon with, and the future we’re responsible for building. She begins by unpacking the generational trauma rooted in LDS pioneer mythology and how it impacts the behavior of children and youth in a culture that rewards long-suffering si...

Episode 5 of Architecture of Abuse discusses how the LDS Church’s teachings around sexuality create a perfect storm for silence and abuse. Hosts Alyssa Grenfell and Tim Kosnoff are joined by sex therapist Natasha Helfer, and expert on undue influence, Dr. Steven Hassan, to examine how members are conditioned from childhood to ignore internal discomfort, how spiritual  hierarchy undermines personal revelation, and how ...

The influence of the LDS Church in Utah can be traced through its methodical rise throughout history: from desert-settling pioneers to modern-day corporate powzerhouse. Attorney Tim Kosnoff, and author and content creator Alyssa Grenfell unpack why the Church’s financial, political, and legal power makes accountability for abuse so elusive in the state of Utah. From the “accident” of their establishment in the wildern...

In this exploration of Utah and Church history, co-hosts Alyssa Grenfell and veteran attorney Tim Kosnoff are joined by historian and executive producer Lindsay Hansen Park to trace the LDS Church’s origins through a stark and unflinching lens that reveals how romanticized origins can obscure systemic harm. Together, they examine how secrecy, outlaw theology, and institutional power became woven into the very foundati...

Co-host Alyssa Grenfell explores how the LDS Church's obsession with outward righteousness creates a culture that silences victims, enables abuse, and even erodes mental health. From standards for clothing and appearances, to the pressure of being “worthy”, this conversation confronts the Church’s behavioral theology head-on. Featuring insights from therapist Dr. Julie Hanks, sex therapist Natasha Helfer, and expert o...

Co-host Tim Kosnoff reconnects with therapist and author Dr. Julie Hanks, who shares an emotional update: after years of faithful participation she has stepped away from activity in the LDS Church. In her own words, Dr. Hanks explains how increasing scrutiny from Church leadership and coordinated complaints from the public made her feel unsafe, unsupported, and ultimately pushed out. Diving into the power dynamics at ...

Co-hosts Alyssa Grenfell and Tim Kosnoff examine how LDS Church culture or the invisible behavioral structures that exist beyond official doctrine, shapes beliefs, silences dissent, and leaves children at risk. Therapist Dr. Julie Hanks brings over 30 years of experience working with LDS families, offering acute insight into the emotional and developmental toll of rigid gender roles, spiritual bypassing, and trauma mi...

Attorney Tim Kosnoff and host Alyssa Grenfell map the century-long knot between the Boy Scouts of America and the LDS Church where 40 % of all U.S. Boy Scout troops once met under a Mormon steeple. Having represented 17,000 of the over 80,000 claimants against the Boy Scouts, Tim explains why he believes the Boy Scouts of America was “the largest pedophile ring on earth”: from a card-filing system that began in 1916 t...

Episode 2 of Architecture of Abuse is an analysis of the financial and professional resources the LDS Church utilizes to insulate itself from liability— their legal privilege, institutional wealth, and the human cost of prioritizing the “good name of the Church.” Host Alyssa Grenfell, co-host and attorney Tim Kosnoff, and journalist Murray Jones reveal the mechanics of the Church’s Help Line; the Church’s estimated $2...

What happens when abuse, or spiritual sin of any kind, is reported within the private systems of the LDS Church? In our first Deep Dive, co-hosts Tim Kosnoff and Alyssa Grenfell break down the Church’s internal court structure and disciplinary processes, examining how reporting norms, especially evident within the Church's missionary program, reinforce silence and control.

For survivors wondering whether to come forward, Tim offers...

The first episode of Architecture of Abuse invites listeners into a sobering conversation about the institutional systems that allow child sexual abuse to persist within organizations like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Co-Hosts Alyssa Grenfell and veteran attorney Tim Kosnoff are joined by journalist Lisa Davis (The Sins of Brother Curtis), whose investigative work into the Frank Curtis case reveals how systemic ...

Coming Soon. Architecture of Abuse is a seven-episode podcast examining how structures of power, particularly within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have enabled child sexual abuse, silenced victims, and avoided accountability for the institution. Hosted by Alyssa Grenfell and veteran attorney Tim Kosnoff, the series features conversations with legal experts, therapists, sociologists, journalists, and more. Subscri...