Pioneering Paradox: A podcast for conflicted saints – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we’re joined by Mormon history scholar Patrick Mason to explore the complexity of the controversial figure, Brigham Young. In a time when polarization divides us, we seek to thoughtfully address a question recently posed by my daughter: “Is there anything good about Brigham Young?”

We delve into topics such as slavery, racism, polygamy, and the tensions between Mormons and Native Americans. While we can’t cover all the nuances of these complex issues in a single hour, we hope this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on Brigham Young's legacy and the challenges of reconciling both the positive and negative aspects of history.

Join Casey McFarland and his wife Melanie as they analyze the life of Joseph F. Smith with a compassionate lens to better understand the mind of the modern day Mormon.

In this episode we discuss Richard Rohr's concept of the Cosmic Egg from a Latter Day Saint perspective, which is a model that encompasses My story, Our story, Other stories, and THE story. We discuss the Latter Day Saint story from the perspective of an active member, a member who no longer attends and some who is all over the place.

In this episode, Wil and I discuss the importance of being true to oneself while still being a part of a community. We discuss how communities can either squash an individual or help and individual thrive depending on a variety of factors. We also breech the topic of being ones own self within a marriage. We hope this helps someone in someway.

In this episode, I invited Natalie Curtis (former owner of Holy Threads, and former Seminary Teacher) for a younger generation perspective on change and about how the church is aligning more and more with mainstream Christianity including the new invitation to join other denominations to celebrate the season of Easter. We talk about how change is good but can also be confusing and hurtful. 

In a 2017 study, researchers Benjamin Knoll and Jana Riess asked members who had left the faith, ‘How old were you when you stopped identifying as a member of the LDS Church?’ The average answer? Twenty-one—the legal drinking age.

Currently, in the U.S., about 62% of adults drink alcohol. Many do so responsibly, but according to Pew Research, over 10% of Americans age 12 and up struggle with alcohol use disorder.

The reality is, many of our kids will step into a world where drinking is not just common—it’s often expected. So how do we talk about that without sounding churchy?

Today, we’re bringing in a guest Jay Hymas from outside the church to share a different perspective and help us open up a real, informed conversation about alcohol and a few other substances—with their risks and realities, and how we can keep those conversations going, with love and honesty.”**

Now that we have recorded a few episodes we realized many of you don’t know who we are so in this episode I interviewed my co-host and active member, Wil Wood. Wil lives with his wife Lauren and three children in Cache Valley, Utah. Together they own a very popular kitchen appliance store called Love to Cook. Located in downtown Logan it has become a cultural gathering place for cooking classes, book clubs and bridge building and Wil and Lauren are at the center of it all. 

Wil is an avid outdoorsman and finds much of his spiritual nourishment in the local mountains. He is a poet and writer and has contributed to local magazines. He is the author of the book “And it Was Beautiful” 

Welcome to Pioneering Paradox, a podcast for conflicted Latter Day Saints. In the current  polarized climate we find ourselves in, we thought we would interview two people who are working on bringing people together through similarities rather than differences. "That's Church" is a podcast hosted by sisters Emilie Call and Ashlie Sanders, who come together to explore the diverse tapestry of faith within their community. Inspired by their grandparents' mixed-faith marriage and their grandmother's belief that "there is good in all religions," they aim to build bridges between various religious communities by interviewing individuals who lead or attend different congregations. Through these conversations, Emilie and Ashlie delve into how their friends and neighbors experience spirituality and define what church means to them, embracing ideas and beliefs beyond their own LDS backgrounds. Please welcome Emile and Ashlie

An interview about one man's journey to Mecca three times. I recorded this during covid with a travel podcast in mind. I went to publish it when I discovered he was being indicted on federal charges for Covid Relief fraud in the sum total of $300k Bummer

In an attempt to give some back story to listeners about who we are as hosts, Wil and I took turns interviewing each other. I interviewed Wil in the episode title Meet Wil Wood, Go back and give that a listen. This episode Wil interviews Casey. Thanks for listening.