The Cultural Hall Podcast

In this Articles of News episode of The Cultural Hall, the hosts dive into a mix of Mormon pop culture, church updates, and weekend sports recaps. From the Affleck family divorce to the unwritten rules of chapel seating, the episode covers the latest happenings in and around The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormon Pop Culture: The hosts briefly touch on the high-profile divorce of Jen and Zac Affleck. Sunday Meetings: A discussion on the Gospel Foundations class, the charm of the annual Primary Program, and the experience of having grandsons participate. Smooch, Marry, Kill (Lamentations Edition): The hosts play a humorous round debating the frustrations of attending church without a spouse or kids, the ethics of hacking the system to get Temple Square Christmas tickets, and the intense territorial claims over soft bench seating in the chapel. New ASL Leadership: The Church has created a Sunday School presidency for American Sign Language (ASL) members. The hosts note that there are only 20 ASL wards and branches in the United States, and the average deaf member lives 235 miles away from one. Military Resources: Expanded resources are now available for military members and veterans on the Member Tools app, along with a new military ID tag featuring a Christus image. Savior of the World: The traditional theatrical production is shifting to a concert-style format at the Tabernacle. Church Business: Farmland Reserve is leasing 3,700 acres in Texas for a massive 96-megawatt data center and solar plant project. BYU-Idaho: Updates regarding deferred enrollment policies for students. College Football: A recap of BYU’s tough loss to Utah, noting that four interceptions and a dozen penalties make it hard to win any game. The hosts also discuss UCF tight end Grayson Bruso, an LDS player on the opposing team who handled fan chants with grace. Fines and Penalties: A look at recent institutional fines of $100,000, on-field penalties, and the revoking of attendance privileges for unruly fan behavior. College Basketball: BYU basketball opens the season 2-0 with wins over Ohio State and Omaha. Pamela J. Atkinson: Remembering the life and legacy of the woman often referred to as “Utah’s Mother Teresa” following her passing. Saints and Sodas: A new documentary exploring Utah’s “dirty soda” culture (featuring brands like Swig and Sodalicious) is now available to rent for $10 on Amazon Prime. BYU Research: Highlighting groundbreaking cancer therapy research utilizing microphages being developed at Brigham Young University. Heritage Trip: Verlin shares highlights from taking his father on a personal heritage trip to Lakeshore, Utah. The post Become a Patreon Saint of The Cultural Hall – AoN – 1086 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Innovating within the Church with Roy Zwahlen In this episode, the host sits down with Roy Zwahlen, an innovation architect and strategic leader at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to explore the mechanics of innovation within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Roy discusses how local leaders and members can move past the barriers of top-down administration to embrace grassroots creativity and revelation in their own callings. Roy defines innovation simply as novelty combined with someone willing to pay for it, which in a church setting often translates to an investment of time. He explains that revelation frequently serves as the front end of the innovative process, much like the experiences of scriptural figures such as the Brother of Jared or Nephi. A major obstacle to this progress, however, is the false dichotomy assuming all direction must come from the top down, a mindset that can stifle local problem-solving. Cultural narratives surrounding singular moments of top-down revelation—such as Moses receiving the Ten Commandments or the 1978 revelation on the priesthood—can sometimes obscure the collaborative brainstorming required for everyday innovation. To illustrate these concepts, Roy highlights the creation of early morning seminary as a prime example of grassroots innovation that successfully originated in Southern California before being adopted church-wide. He also uses the historical example of Madam C.J. Walker, who overcame immense systemic barriers to become the first female self-made millionaire in the U.S., showing the power of supportive community “enclaves” in fostering creation. Looking at modern church initiatives, the recent launch of the Gospel Foundations class serves as an innovation that can be integrated locally utilizing existing tabs in the church app. Additionally, BYU Pathway is discussed as a major disruptive innovation that will significantly impact the church’s educational model moving forward. Buy Race to Innovation The post Race to Innovation – Roy Zwahlen – 1085 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Richie and Verlin broadcast from the “home steadio” in this episode, jokingly comparing themselves to sports broadcasters. They dive into the treasures of a family library, noting finds like the Book of Commandments, books by Cleon Skousen, and a Kouri Richins text. The hosts discuss the status of the “Patreon saints,” the “Cultural Hall Vault,” and their desire for a “BobDix” style sponsor. A trip to a Fountain Green wedding sparks a debate on whether to walk or drive to church when staying at an Airbnb directly across the street. They also touch on the quirks of church titles, preferring “Brother Verlin” over “President Youd,” and mention political donations involving John Giles and Ben McAdams. In “Articles of News,” they highlight the Best DJ in Utah and Glade’s Drive-In before playing a sports-fan edition of Smooch, Marry, Kill—debating the “tarps off guy,” “happy man spreader,” and “unofficial play caller”. Finally, they lock in their score predictions for the BYU vs. Utah football rivalry. The post Tarps Off Everyone, Tarps Off AoN 1084 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Temple Dedications Managua Nicaragua Temple #225? October 18th, presided by Ronald Rasband Dedicatory Prayer First Temple in Nicaragua 12 Stakes, 4 Districts in Temple District Montpelier Idaho Temple #226? October 18th, presided by Henry B Eyring  Dedicatory Prayer 6 Stakes in Temple District Cody Wyoming Temple #227 October 25th, presided by Clark Gilbert Dedicatory Prayer 3 Stakes in Temple District Story of Property owners who donated their land  Temple Open House Begins Torreón México Temple Media day on October 19th, led by Moisés Villanueva and Taylor G. Godoy Corner of Paris and Amsterdam Streets (5 minutes from Eiffel Tower) In Gomez Palacio Durango (lighted hillside visible) Interior Photos released Paintings with Dunas de Bilbao and Cerro de las Noas Cotton plant and blossom and of wheat plants, Green, lilac, white and orange tones Temple Groundbreakings  Vienna Austria Temple Held October 17th, presided by Michael Cziezla Lehi Utah Temple Announced for December 5th, Presided by John A. Mccune Parking Lot already paved Temple Site Announced El Paso Texas Temple 6.4-acre site located at the northeast corner of Northern Pass Drive and Paseo del Norte Boulevard in El Paso Single-story temple of 22,300 square feet Construction Updates Brussels Belgium Temple Construction underway with corrugated metal cover with pedestrian walkways Salt Lake Temple Elder Rasband calls the celebration “a mini Worlds Fair” Renovations wrapping up at the Beehive House and Lion House The post There’s Not Room for All That Oxen – Temple Ticker – 1083 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Halloween Shenanigans As Halloween approaches, the duo shares their family plans. Kurt reveals that his family is dressing up as characters from The Office, while Richie admits to avoiding the festivities altogether. “Take me as I am, Richie. Okay? I don’t need to show up differently for the world,” Kurt declares, embracing authenticity. While discussing chili cook-offs, Kurt shares his secret strategy: “You bring a muffin tin, okay? You get a little bit of each [chili], determine which one you like the best, and go back for more of that.” This innovative approach not only maximizes flavor but also earns him some serious street cred among his friends. Church Reflections Transitioning from Halloween to church, Richie shares a recent experience where the youth took charge of a meeting. “I thought this was cool that they thought out of the box and did this today,” he says, reflecting on the positive impact of youth involvement. However, some listeners criticized the innovation, citing strict adherence to tradition. Richie passionately argues against rigid norms: “It should not be groundbreaking to ask the people that worship with you what they might like.” Kurt agrees, highlighting how straightforward adjustments in church dynamics can foster inclusivity. Final Thoughts As they wrap up, Richie shares an anecdote about a wedding he’s officiating for a self-identified witch, leading to humorous reflections on belief and tradition. This episode is filled with laughter, insightful discussions, and practical tips for navigating both holiday festivities and community engagements. For more stories, insights, and a deeper dive into this conversation, be sure to tune into the full episode! The post But It’s The Pelvic Thrust – AoN -1082 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Davis Smith, former CEO of Cotopaxi and recent mission president in Brazil, joins The Cultural Hall to share the profound highs and jarring lows of transitioning back to everyday life after an intensive period of service. Leading a Mission & Family Balance Davis reflects on the demanding yet deeply rewarding experience of presiding over a dense, urban Brazilian mission alongside his wife. He discusses the unique challenge of balancing the spiritual mentorship of hundreds of young missionaries with raising their two young sons in a fast-paced environment. The Shock of Coming Home Returning back to the United States, brought an unexpected mental toll. Davis opens up about the jarring emotional shift from a highly structured, purpose-driven environment to the quiet reality of regular life, describing the temporary feelings of guilt and emptiness many experience upon returning. A Guide for the Next Decade To help returning missionaries navigate this exact struggle, Davis introduces his newly written book. Serving as a practical mentor, the book offers “life lessons” on networking, maintaining spiritual discipline, and achieving financial freedom through early index fund investing. Buy The Next 10 Years Embracing Discomfort True to his thrill-seeking nature, Davis shares wild adventure stories—from spearfishing in the Bahamas to floating the Amazon for piranha—emphasizing that intentionally seeking out hard things is the ultimate catalyst for personal growth. The post The Next Ten Years – Davis Smith – 1081 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

The episode kicks off with the host welcoming Molly “the Ash Ashton” and Verlin for a news-focused discussion. The conversation quickly turns to the phenomenon of family secrets, with Molly recalling a funeral where photos of ex-wives were deliberately excluded, shocking a 12-year-old grandson who had no idea his father had a prior marriage. Verlin shares a parallel experience of discovering a living grandmother at age 12 who had been hidden from the family, leading to a broader discussion on how modern DNA testing continues to unearth hidden relatives today. Relief Society Realities and Leprechaun Games Molly opens up about the heavy emotional toll of serving as a Relief Society President, describing a grueling week that involved filing a missing person’s report and supporting a family at a substance abuse center. Lightening the mood, the hosts play a Notre Dame-themed round of “Smooch, Marry, Kill” featuring leprechaun versions of a mission companion, a Relief Society President, and a Primary child. Verlin humorously decides to kill the mission companion, smooch the Relief Society President, and marry the Primary child. London Travels and the Notre Dame Matchup Verlin recounts his recent two-week trip to England, highlighting a reunion with his childhood Primary teacher. He funded the overseas adventure by selling his tickets to the highly anticipated BYU vs. Notre Dame game, ultimately waking up at 12:30 AM in London to watch the broadcast. The hosts agree this matchup eclipses the BYU vs. Utah rivalry in national importance, noting the stadium’s deafening, Virginia Tech-level atmosphere. They also highlight unique game-day moments, including a remote opening prayer from a BYU Pathway student praying for Pope Leo, a fan reading the Book of Mormon on camera, and controversial officiating calls involving a fumble-spike just before halftime. The post Biggest Game at Lavell Edwards Stadium EVER?! – AoN- 1080 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Take the free Assessment Learn More In this episode of The Cultural Hall, Richie sits down with Reuben, the founder of Arise and Heal Recovery, to tackle a deeply entrenched and often stigmatized issue within the LDS community and beyond: pornography and sexual compulsion. Reuben challenges the traditional cultural response of shaming and hiding, explaining how silence only isolates those who are struggling from God, their leaders, and their loved ones. Instead of relying on exhausted “white-knuckle willpower,” Reuben breaks down the physiological reality of addiction, describing how pornography consumption creates massive dopamine spikes that eventually numb the brain’s receptors and trap individuals in a downward cycle of consumption and shame. The conversation shifts the paradigm from viewing this struggle as a simple moral failing to understanding it as a matter of brain chemistry and disconnection. Reuben explains that when individuals are overwhelmed by the urge to view pornography, their “middle brain” activates a protective “freeze” response, effectively shutting down the frontal lobe where genuine connection with God, oneself, and others takes place. True recovery, Reuben argues, is not about fighting the temptation directly or sitting paralyzed in a thought spiral, but about engaging the body and mind to rebuild synaptic connections and find healthy sources of dopamine. Through an 84-day process of self-mastery and addressing the root causes of pain and disconnection, Reuben offers a realistic, grace-filled roadmap for lasting healing. The post Arise Heal – Pornography and Sexual Compulsion – Reuben Aiton – 1079 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Temple Dedications Ephraim Utah Temple – #223? Dedicated October 11th, presided by Ronald Rasband Dedicatory Prayer 11 Stakes in Temple District Guatemala City Guatemala Miraflores Temple -# 224? Dedicated October 11th, presided by Gerrit Gong Dedicatory Prayer 19 Stakes, 1 District in Temple District 2nd Latin American city with two temples 100,000 people visited the open house  Visited by the President of Guatemala Montpelier Idaho Temple Announced that Henry B Eyring will dedicate the temple on October 18th Temple Open House Begins Modesto California Temple Media day on October 13th  Interior photos released almond blossoms, strawberries, agricultural fields, canal systems, local railroads and waterways flowing from the Sierra Nevada region. Linear patterns in the millwork give a nod to agricultural fields and irrigation systems of California’s Central Valley, and several pieces of artwork also tie to the valley’s landscape, waterways, orchards and agriculture. Cherrywood is used for the doors and stained millwork, while painted millwork uses paint-grade maple and poplar. Temple Groundbreakings Maceió Brazil Temple Held on October 10th, presided by B. Corey Cuvelier  Next to a Statue of Liberty  Iquitos Peru Temple Held on October 10th, presided by Sandino Román Largest city not connected to roads University Dean participates Cuernavaca Mexico Temple Scheduled for November 14th, presided by Moisés Villanueva Eket Nigeria Temple Scheduled for November 28th, presided by D. Martin Goury Rendering Released 18.850 sq. ft. single story building and rectangular spire with a diamond tessellation design  Calabar Nigeria Temple Scheduled for December 5th, presided by Christian C. Chigbundu Viña del Mar Chile Temple Scheduled for December 5th, presided by Sergio R. Vargas  Rendering Released 30,000 sq. ft. two-story rectangular building with double domes topped with cupulas Design influenced by the prominent French neoclassical and Venetian gothic architecture in the coast of chile Temple Renderings released Goiânia Brazil Temple 18,850 sq. ft. single story building with simple modern white spire Campo Grande Brazil Temple 11,300 sq. ft. single story building with spire with art glass Temple Site Announced Otalavo Ecuador Temple 6.05 Acre near Calle Bolivar and Calle Abya Yala Adjacent to the stake center for the Otavalo Ecuador Imbabura Stake Former hotel/wellness resort/ wellness center Temple Leaders Called Queretaro Mexico Temple Glendon Lyons Castillo and Guadalupe Ochoa López de Lyons of the Jurica Ward, Querétaro México Stake Orlando Florida Temple Victor Phillip Patrick and Elizabeth Fletcher Patrick of the South Tampa Ward, Tampa Florida Stake Construction Updates Yuma Arizona Temple Preliminary site development happening Huehuetenango Guatemala Temple Causing street flooding? Update: the construction workers have fixed the street.  Antananarivo Madagascar temple Prefabricated modules installed Lehi Utah Temple Site construction continues without a groundbreaking Spanish Fork Utah Temple City council approves zoning change for Master plan development called Oak Village  Sunnyvale California Temple The Planning Commission approved plans with conditions on September 28th after a 5.5 hour meeting. Allowing a 129 foot spire.  Cody Wyoming 18,500 people toured the temple Threatening man found competent to stand trial   Tale of two temple renovations Stockholm Sweden Temple Gold Angel Moroni place on new reconstructed temple Manhattan New York Temple New, taller spire installed on temple without Angel Moroni Two Anchorage Temples  Salt Lake Temple Mary and Martha Statue  Mostly open temple square during conference  Shoutout to Dedicate series from President Oaks More tickets released  Transportation plan to handle 22,000 people per day North Temple/Redwood Road parking with 1710 stalls with shuttle service from 7am to 10:30pm Bike Valet on Park Plaza Hotel site Commercial bus parking and drop off site behind church history library, volunteer parking nearby.  Secure Parameter around temple square with welcome gateway The post Lady Liberty and the Angel Moroni walk into a Temple – Temple Ticker – 1078 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Taylor is finally back in the co-host seat, and this time he’s broadcasting in glorious landscape orientation. He’s down to just two major life goals these days: acquiring a second chain and managing to live in the exact same place for more than a year. We also get a major life update that he is officially off the market, having formalized his new relationship back in May after initially meeting her at a dating show last year.  On the digital front, we are heavily pushing our social media presence, specifically focusing on Instagram reels as we march toward that 3,000 follower milestone, while our Facebook page sits comfortably over 9,000. Some of the recent clips have absolutely taken off, including a look at the Highland Park Chapel in Sugarhouse that quickly racked up 32,000 views. We also send a massive thank you to BobDix for his generous donation to help fund The Cultural Hall Vault, and take a quick minute to highlight my own business, Best DJ in Utah, fresh off rocking Diana’s 50th high school reunion. For the news segment, we dive deep into former guest Dan McClellan—who you might remember from episode 666—and the massive reach of his Data Over Dogma platform. Dan recently spent three hours on the Joe Rogan Experience, where he actively pushed back against theories regarding the psychedelic mushroom origins of Christianity. We chat about Dan hitting the golf course with Rhett from the YouTube duo Rhett & Link, touching on their highly public faith deconstruction. Taking things back to the local ward level, Taylor shares a wild Sunday School moment where a member bluntly suggested the class just agree the story of the flood didn’t actually happen. We wrap up the episode with some General Conference thoughts, specifically highlighting a fantastic quote from Sister Runia that really resonated. Finally, we touch on the bizarre recent arrest of Ammon Bundy, a two-time former guest of the show, who was pulled over in Utah while driving an unregistered car and told authorities he was operating as his own nation under God. The post Unscripted Uchtdorf for the Win – AoN 1077 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.