Leading Saints Podcast

Having Difficult Conversations with Youth | A How I Lead Interview with Keith Wonnacott

Keith Wonnacott is a former bishop, currently serving as Stake Young Men’s president as a member of his stake High Council. He lives in Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C., and works in regulatory affairs for Pfizer. In this podcast he talks about a fifth Sunday presentation he did while serving as bishop, how it came about, and how parents can help lead their children through difficult conversations. Highlights 3:00 How Brother Wonnacott came to have difficult conversations with his s...

Mother in Heaven at Church | An Interview with Scott Layton

Note: We recognize that the doctrine of Mother in Heaven is a very sensitive topic for many individuals in our faith community. Many will come to this episode seeking hope and encouragement in their eternal faith journey (especially women). Both the host and interviewee intended this discussion to be hopeful and encouraging (especially to women). We also recognize that some women have felt marginalized and diminished in our religious community and might interpret some of this discussion (espe...

Understanding Priesthood Keys in Leadership | An Interview with Mark Mathews

This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in September 2018.  Mark Mathews was born in Houston, TX. He served a mission in Guatemala and met his wife at Brigham Young University. He later earned a Ph.D. in education from Utah State University. He has been teaching for the Church Educational System for 17 years and has taught in Brigham City, Utah Valley, and at BYU. Highlights Temples 5:27: Will include the word “temple” in his class titles moving forward. 6:14: There are many t...

When Church is a Burden | An Interview with Andrea Lystrup

Andrea Lystrup is a licensed marriage and family therapist and owns a private practice—Andrea Lystrup Therapy—in Tucson, Arizona. She received her master’s degree from the University of Maryland in Couple and Family Therapy. She specializes in couples' therapy, particularly working with sexual issues, betrayal trauma, and mixed faith marriages. She serves as the stake sister support specialist for the Tucson stake, providing training to stake leaders on issues like abuse prevention and recogn...

Once I Was a Leader | How I Lead with Maclain Nelson and Ken Craig

Maclain Nelson is the director, writer, and producer of Once I Was Engaged, the sequel to the film Once I Was a Beehive (which he also wrote, produced, and directed.) He is also known for The Saratov Approach and BYU TV's Show Offs, as well as many other films produced in Utah. Maclain earned a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts Studies from Brigham Young University and is married to Clare Niederpruem. Ken Craig plays a bishop in the film, a reprisal of his previous role in Once I Was a Beehiv...

Being a Single Adult Does Not Mean You’re Broken | An Interview with Morgan Jones

Morgan Jones is the host of the All In podcast for LDS Living. She previously wrote for the Deseret News, where she published more than 480 stories and served as senior web producer. She is a passionate storyteller and loves having the opportunity to share stories that deserve to be told. Her new book, All In: Exploring What it Means to be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shares what she has learned from nearly three years of hosting the All In podcast. She has served as a ward Relief Socie...

Stepping Up to Leadership Opportunities | An Interview with Jeff Burningham

Jeff Burningham is an entrepreneur, founder & chairman of Peak Ventures and Peak Capital Partners, an apartment investment and venture capital firm. He holds an MBA from Brigham Young University, where he started his first tech company, is an active philanthropist, and ran for governor of Utah as an "innovative outsider" in 2020. He also has a podcast called Extraordinary Us. Jeff was called as a young bishop at age 27. He and his wife Sally live in Provo, Utah. Highlights 3:05 – Introduction...

How I Lead as Relief Society President | An Interview with Brigette Heller

Brigette Heller was born in Alaska and raised all over the Western United States. She is a life coach and speaker, and is determined to share life-changing mindset techniques using radical motivation to women in her Strong and Capable community. Brigette and her sister also own Deco-Crate Event Design, an event planning business. She has served in a variety of church leadership positions, including as a young Relief Society president. Brigette and her husband Mike are the parents of three chi...

A Life of Leadership | An Interview with Brent Top

Brent L. Top is a professor of Church History & Doctrine at Brigham Young University, but will be retiring in July after 45 years as a religious educator within the Church Educational System, the last 34 years at BYU. He served for several years as Dean of Religious Education, and prior to that as department chair and associate dean. He is the author of more than 20 books, primarily directed to the Latter-day Saint audience, and scores of articles and book chapters in both academic and church...

Leading‎‎‏‏‎ ‎with Your God-Given Talents | An Interview with Dustin Peterson

This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in December 2018.  Dustin Peterson was raised in Dallas, Texas, and served a mission in the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission. He graduated from BYU-Idaho in Communications where he met his beautiful wife and fellow Texan, Samye Martino, and later completed a Master's degree in Educational Leadership at Indiana University. Dustin has trained and coached executives and leaders at a variety of organizations. He is currently the founder and CEO of Pro...

Why Your Ward Should Wander | An Interview with Dan Duckworth

Dan Duckworth is a master changemaker and founder of The Crucible Life, a global community for changemakers who are learning to master the hidden forces that shape leadership, communities, and change. He's the host of The Purpose Workshop and author of Stop Asking Why, a little book that answers life's biggest question in a surprising way. Dan serves on the Leading Saints Board of Directors and is a frequent content contributor. Highlights 2:30 About Dan's Changemakers community 4:15 Going f...

How I Lead as Seminary Council President | An Interview with Rachel Wagner

Rachel Wagner has served as the Beehive class president, Mia Maid 2nd counselor, stake youth council representative, and seminary council president. She enjoys composing uplifting music, baking and decorating cakes, dancing, playing soccer, and being with friends and family. Rachel is also excited to continue to help others come unto Christ by serving in the Benin Cotonou mission this fall. Highlights 2:50 About Seminary council and her calling as president 5:30 Getting started in this leader...

Why Recovering Addicts Make Great Bishops | An Interview with Mike Houghtaling

Mike Houghtaling was raised in Bellevue, Washington, and Raleigh, North Carolina, and served in the Argentina Cordoba mission. Since entering recovery, he has served as a bishop's counselor, a high councilor, and is currently serving as the bishop of the Fayetteville Georgia YSA Ward. He worked for the Federal Aviation Administration for 37 years, most of those as an air traffic controller, retiring in 2019. Mike and his wife Andrea have five children and seven grandchildren. Highlights 5:10 ...

How I Lead as Bishop | An Interview with Jordan Romans

Jordan Romans served in the Australia Brisbane mission and graduated from BYU with a BA in English. He holds an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix and is the founder and managing director of JLR Creative & Consulting, with 15+ years in sales, marketing, training, and management roles in the medical and aesthetic sales industry. He is currently serving as a bishop in the Beaver Creek Ward in Apex, North Carolina, right by the Raleigh Temple. His previous church callings include bi...

Teaching Youth About the Grace of Jesus Christ | An Interview with Mitchell Taylor

Mitchell’s first book, Perfect in Christ: The Good News of God’s Grace, was published when he was seventeen years old. Mitchell graduated high school in 2021 and has been accepted to attend BYU-Idaho in the fall. He plans to serve a full time mission at the start of 2022. Mitchell has been homeschooled since the third grade but played soccer on the Rigby High School team. During his senior soccer season, he served as the team captain and was voted first team all-conference. Mitchell works as ...

How I Lead as Elders Quorum President | An Interview with Brad Brockbank

Brad Brockbank was born and raised in Lehi, Utah and served a mission in Salvador, Brazil. He attended the University of Utah, graduated with a BA in History, and has worked for Zions Bank in various positions for 18 years. Brad has served in the Church as a Sunday School teacher, in the nursery and Primary, as executive secretary, in elders quorum as a counselor, secretary, and president, and was recently called to be a counselor in his ward's bishopric. Brad and his wife Julie have been mar...

Helping Addicts Share Their Story | An Interview with Jessica Butterfield & Kelly Thompson

Jessica Butterfield and Kelly Thompson are two delightful, committed, intelligent Latter-day Saints who grew up in Utah. Both Jessica and Kelly are also recovering addicts with a compelling story that needs to be heard—a story of struggle, redemption, and a fervent desire to help the addicted and their families, friends, and church leaders. Kelly has authored the book Between Monsters and Mercy and has been a facilitator for the Church’s Addiction Recovery Program. Together they have begun a ...

Relationships Before Progress | A Conversation with Tom Christofferson, President David Checketts, and Bishop Bruce Larson

This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in March 2018. Tom Christofferson is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who experiences same sex attraction. He is also the brother of Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Tom grew up in the Church as a member, served a mission and married in the temple. His short marriage ended and he came out as gay and lived that lifestyle for many years. He started coming back to church with Bruce Lars...

Ministering to Individuals Who Lose a Child | An Interview with Julie Cluff

Julie Cluff is a speaker, author, international grief coach and the owner of Build a Life After Loss, where she helps those who are grieving to rebuild their life after loss. She hosts the Build a Life After Loss podcast, and she is the author of the book Miracles in the Darkness, in which she shares her experiences with grief, including the death of her two youngest children in a car accident on Mother’s Day in 2007, and the journey back to hope and healing. Julie currently serves as the Rel...

Learning to Lead SSA Saints | An Interview with Brent & Bruce Ebmeyer

Brent Ebmeyer has been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints his whole life and served a mission in Argentina. He and his wife Courtney married in 2004 and have five children. A year after they were sealed in the temple, Brent shared that he experiences same-sex attraction. It took them to the brink of separation, but through consistent communication, compassion, and love they have been able to find hope in their future together. Bruce Ebmeyer is Brent's brother. He has ...

Uncovering Hidden Abuse | An Interview with Kimberly Day

Kimberly Day graduated from BYU with a Bachelors in Psychology, served a mission to Temple Square in Salt Lake City, and then went back to school to earn a Masters Degree from Washington State University in Counseling Psychology, where she also taught seminary and then Institute. She worked in higher education and later at a financial planning firm, but eventually felt the call to come back to her love for counseling and working with people through life’s challenges. Kimberly's focus is worki...

How I Lead as Branch President in Lithuania | An Interview with Denis Grinevicius

Denis Grinevicius was a young teen when Lithuania broke from the USSR and become an independent country in 1993. Shortly afterward, as previously-forbidden religion became available, his family met the missionaries and he and his mother were baptized. Because the branch was small, he has had many opportunities to serve. He has been an elders quorum counselor and president multiple times, a branch counselor and president (twice), a district president and counselor, and a counselor in the missi...

Mental Health & Youth | An Interview with Jody Moore

Jody Moore is a mother, speaker, Master Certified Life Coach and the owner of Jody Moore Coaching where she helps women improve their self-concept, live from empowering emotions and accomplish their goals. She has a multiple-7-figure coaching practice where she works with her clients online, teaching classes and hosting live calls, supplemented with live events. She has four children ages 4 to 13 and resides with them and her husband in Spokane, Washington. Prior to founding her coaching pra...

How I Lead as Stake Relief Society President | An Interview with Sue Peterson

How Connection Can Improve Your Ward’s Mental Health | An Interview with Geoff Steurer

How I Lead as Bishop | An Interview with Donald Kelly

Anxiety Management Using Gospel Principles | An Interview with David Morgan

Dr. David Morgan received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Master of Science in Counseling and Guidance, and Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology, all from Brigham Young University. He has worked in the mental health field for more than 25 years and has been a licensed psychologist for almost 20 years. Dr. Morgan maintains a private psychology practice in Washington state. He is a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and currently serves as the elde...

Navigating the Intersection of Faith and Politics | An Interview with Thomas Griffith

Leading the Restoration Today | An Interview with Patrick Mason

Patrick Mason holds the Leonard J. Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University. He is the author of multiple books, including Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt and Restoration: God's Call to the 21st-Century World. He and his wife Melissa have four children and live in Logan, Utah, where he currently serves as ward Sunday School president. Highlights 5:30 What led him to write the book Restoration 8:00 Change and restoration on every level 9:35 God ...

Leading‏‏‎ the Restoration Today | An Interview with Patrick Mason

How I Lead as a Bishop in Germany | An Interview with Joshua Konietz

Joshua Konietz is the grandson of one of the pioneers for the Church in Europe, and served in the England Birmingham mission. He has served as elders quorum president, high counselor, and as a bishop for three years. Joshua manages a development team working in northern Europe to reduce auto and industrial weight and CO2 emissions. He and his wife Janina live in Friedrichsdorf, Germany, near the Frankfurt temple, and are the parents of three children. Highlights 3:45 The Church experience tod...

Bringing Out the Best in Those We Lead | An Interview with Jeff Mask

Jeff Mask is a business growth and leadership expert, international speaker, and CEO coach to some of the best and brightest business minds around the world. At church he has loved serving the youth in his wards and stakes from California, Arizona, and Utah over the past 20 years. He is currently the Stake Mission Preparation teacher for his stake. Jeff and his wife are the parents of four children. Highlights 5:00 Jeff's purpose and work coaching CEOs 7:00 Getting past imposter syndrome: rel...

Leading Those with Special Needs | An Interview with Stan Beagley

Stan Beagley and his wife are the parents of four children, including a young adult son with nonverbal autism. He joined the Church at age 17 and served a mission to Paraguay, then attended Dixie State and Brigham Young University. Stan is the President and CEO of the Piano Gallery stores and has served as the chairman of the Carmen B. Pingree Autism Foundation and on the board of directors of Valley Behavioral Health in Salt Lake City, with an emphasis on autism advocacy. He has served in th...

Creating and Empowering Leaders Through Ward Council | An Interview with Louie Hamner

How We Lead as a Stake Presidency | Inoculating the Youth from Difficult Church Doctrine/Historical Topics

Sandy Utah Willow Creek Stake Presidency, Joe Staples, Davis Smith, and Alan Matheson share their experiences teaching the youth in their stake about the gospel topics essays, as well as members struggling with their faith. Joe Staples recently stepped away from a 22-year career as Chief Marketing Officer and is now a Go-to-Market Advisor, using his experience to help other companies succeed. Joe grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, and converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints r...

Disrupting Your Calling | An Interview with Whitney Johnson

This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in February 2018. Whitney Johnson started as a secretary on Wall Street while taking business classes at night. She worked her way up to an award-winning equity analyst and later co-founded an investment firm with the late Clayton Christensen, She is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of Build an “A” Team, and Disrupt Yourself, and hosts the weekly Disrupt Yourself podcast. Whitney grew up in San Jose, California and served a Ch...

Connecting Others to Jesus Through the Cross at Calvary | An Interview with John Hilton III

How I Lead as a Primary Teacher | An Interview with Megan Hanson

Megan Hanson is originally from Idaho and has lived in Utah and now Arizona. She has taught in Primary, Young Women, youth classes, and gospel doctrine, and offers lesson helps for parents and teachers to help them be confident and stay on top of teaching Come Follow Me at Love Pray Teach. In this podcast, she talks about effective methods of leading and teaching online lessons with Primary children. Highlights 5:40 Plan (for Primary presidencies) Decide what is age-appropriate to teach on...

Is Aspiring Wrong?

Leading People into the Abrahamic Covenant | An Interview with Kerry Muhlestein

Kerry Muhlestein is a professor and director of research in the Department of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University, and also the director of the BYU Egypt Excavation Project. He has taught in the history department of three universities and has been part of award-winning history publications. He received his BS in psychology with a Hebrew minor from BYU, his MA in Ancient Near Eastern studies from BYU, and his PhD from UCLA in Egyptology. He and his wife, Julianne, are the parents of...

How I Lead as a Stake Young Women President | An Interview with Sharla Goettl

I Love My Ward! | An Interview with Clint Pulver

How I Lead as a Virtual Missionary | An Interview with Norman Hill

Norman Hill worked for ExxonMobil for 25 years and then for Reliant Energy as the vice president of Human Resources. He served as the mission president of the Ghana Accra Mission, temporarily including the Sierra Leone Freetown Mission, and is the author of What They Don’t Teach You at the MTC. Highlights 5:00 What methods have been shown to be successful with online missionaries 7:30 Missionaries can start with their interests and find ways to share those with others 8:00 Norm shares several...

Clarifying Purpose to Guide Your Calling, Work, & Family Life | An Interview with Dustin Peterson

Dustin Peterson is a leadership trainer with Proof Leadership Group and works with organizations to help develop their culture. He is also the author of Reset: How to Get Paid and Love What You Do, and coaches individuals to help them get unstuck in their careers. He has served in a stake presidency in Houston, Texas, and also on a high council and as an early morning seminary teacher, and currently serves as a branch president. In this interview, originally recorded as a Facebook Live sessio...

How I Lead as Bishop After a Faith Crisis | An Interview With Dan Conway

This is a re-broadcast. The episode originally ran in February 2018. Dan Conway is a bishop in Newcastle, in northeast England, and has also served as an elders quorum president. He served a mission to Scotland and works as a digital marketing executive. In this episode, Dan walks us through his crisis of faith prior to being called as bishop, and how that affected how he leads now. Episode Summary 5:45 Mission to Scotland 8:45 Faith crisis 14:40 Reading and praying didn’t work as a solution ...

Solidarity Over Service | An Interview with Jana Spangler

Jana Spangler is an Integral Professional Life Coach with Symmetry Solutions who specializes in coaching individuals and couples who are experiencing shifts in their religious belief or are affected by a loved one’s shifting belief. Her work centers around understanding faith and spiritual development and offering tools to manage the challenges of relationship, identity, spiritual growth, and spiritual connection that emerge during times of shifting faith. She currently serves as a Relief Soc...

How I Lead as Ward Mission Leader | An Interview with Liliana and Danny Bolaños

Pure Doctrines Relearned | An Interview with Fiona and Terryl Givens

Recognizing and Responding to the Voice of the Spirit as a Leader | An Interview with Elder Craig A. Cardon

How I Lead as an Assembly of God Pastor | An Interview with David Jayne