Today we’d like to introduce you to Carly Bingham.
Hi Carly, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We’re sisters—Cindy and Carly. Carly is older—we are seven years apart but we have always been close our entire lives. We are straight out of a very large Mormon family raised in Southern California. Think: eleven siblings, matching Sunday outfits, scripture study before school, family prayer, early morning seminary, and never missing church. It was all we knew.
We both did what was expected—temple weddings in the LA temple, building families, active in the church, checking all the boxes. I (Carly) stayed married for twenty years, Cindy for seven.
In 2019, my then-husband and I, along with our four kids, left the church. About a year and a half later, Cindy followed the same path—leaving the faith and, not long after, her marriage. She’s got two amazing kids of her own.
Then life threw another curveball—our dad, Bob, passed away from cancer.
By the end of 2024, I closed the book on my marriage, too. A few months later, we thought, ‘Why not start a podcast?’ Not just to tell our stories, but to be the sister or best friend you wish you had when your life feels like it’s in freefall—someone to help you laugh, learn, and feel a little less alone.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Leaving the Mormon church was a massive shift for both of us. It meant losing not just a belief system, but a whole community and way of life we’d been immersed in since birth. Friendships changed, family relationships got complicated, and suddenly we were rethinking everything we thought we knew about ourselves.
On top of that, we were both navigating divorces, single parenting, and the very unglamorous reality of starting over in our early 30s and early 40s. Then came the grief of losing our dad—something that cracked us open in ways we didn’t expect.
There were (and still are) plenty of moments of doubt, fear, and ‘what the hell are we doing?’ But those same moments pushed us to figure out who we really are, outside of all the labels and expectations. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth every bump in the road.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We host a podcast called Messy Genes. It’s part storytelling, part sister banter, and part survival guide for life after big changes—whether that’s leaving a high-control religion, ending a marriage, or just figuring out who you are when the old versions of you are unraveling.
We specialize in blending irreverent humor with honesty. We’re not afraid to talk about the heavy stuff—loss, divorce, identity shifts—but we do it in a way that feels like you’re hanging out with friends who can make you laugh even when everything feels messy. We’re not here to constantly rehash Mormon trauma—we’re here to help others reframe their experiences in a way that feels authentic and meaningful.
What we’re most proud of is hearing from listeners who tell us, ‘I feel less alone because of you.’ That’s the best compliment we could ever get. Oh and “You’re funny as f*ck.”
What sets us apart is that we’ve lived it. We’re not speaking from a safe distance—we’ve been in the trenches. And we’ve built this space where it’s okay to be raw, real, and ridiculous all at the same time.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Don’t wait until you feel ‘ready’—you’ll be waiting forever. We definitely didn’t feel ready when we launched our podcast. We didn’t have fancy equipment, a huge audience, or a perfect plan. What we did have was a story to tell and a reason to tell it. That’s enough to start.
Also, don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. It’s so easy to look at people who’ve been doing it for years and think you’re behind. You’re not—you’re just in a different chapter.
And here’s something we wish we knew: the messy, imperfect parts are what people connect to most. Nobody bonds over your flawless execution—they bond over your humanness. So lean into that, keep going, and figure it out as you go.
Contact Info:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2JDGdEpc2qWnpWFfuLzJI8
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messy_genes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19J11Nbhg4/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@messygenespodcast
