Anchoring Families with Stories | Sam Payne

What if one of the most important roles you’ll ever play… is one you never officially get? John Bytheway has spent decades teaching and encouraging youth and families, often without ever using the word “mentor.” In this conversation with Lisa, he shares why mentoring is about listening, noticing people’s strengths, and showing up when it matters. You don't have to have all the answers. Be sure to check out John's podcast "FollowHIM": https://followhim.co/

What if the most powerful thing you could give someone isn’t advice or money, but a story? Lisa sits down with Sam Payne, host of The Apple Seed—a story telling podcast on BYU Radio—to explore why storytelling shapes our family culture, strengthens relationships, and helps us understand who we are. Together, they reflect on the healing power of telling stories about those we’ve loved and lost, and why storytelling belongs to all of us. Be sure to check out The Apple Seed: https://www.byuradio.org/the-apple-seed

When violence strikes close to home, the grief feels different. It can feel heavier, more personal, and harder to shake. Lisa sits down with Emma McAdam, licensed therapist and founder of "Therapy in a Nutshell," to talk about how to cope with collective trauma in a 24/7 news cycle. Together they explore emotional resilience, intentional media consumption, and why healing ourselves first is the most powerful way to help our communities heal. Be sure to check out Therapy in a Nutshell: https://therapyinanutshell.com/

When someone you love questions or walks away from their faith, it can feel deeply personal and deeply unsettling. Lisa sits down with Dr. Jared Halverson, a scholar of American religious history and faith loss, to talk about how to respond when faith crises show up in our families and friendships. Together, they explore why belief journeys look different for everyone, how to keep spiritual differences from becoming relationship fractures, and why the most Christlike response may start with tending to our own faith and not trying to fix someone else’s.

Even the strongest marriages hit slumps, and, no, it doesn’t always mean you’re doing it wrong. Lisa talks with clinical psychologist and marriage researcher Dr. Scott Braithwaite about why dips in marital satisfaction are normal and what actually helps couples move through them. With six practical, research-backed strategies, they explore how to break unhealthy patterns, communicate more effectively, and reconnect by focusing on the most important foundation of all: friendship.

Who are the people behind the headlines? Lisa sits down with political scientist and longtime friend Wendy Pearlman to talk about how personal relationships shape the way we understand conflict. Between reminiscing over “poptarts and politics” in Lincoln, Nebraska, and diving into Wendy’s life work--studying the experiences of Syrian refugees, Lisa and Wendy explore what it really means to see the people affected by political conflict and turmoil. Together, they reflect on blind spots, empathy, and why meaningful change often starts with simple, human acts like listening well, asking questions, and choosing kindness. For more about Wendy and her books be sure to check out her website: https://sites.northwestern.edu/wendypearlman/

Lisa sits down with happiness researcher and author Michelle McCullough to explore the science of happiness. Michelle explains why happiness isn’t something we feel when hard things end, but something that helps us get through the hard things. Together they unpack what the research says about joy, the power of belief, and the simple, practical skills that can help us live happier lives right now.

Lisa sits down with actor Bart Johnson--you may recognize him as Coach Bolton from Disney's "High School Musical". Bart talks about the 20th anniversary of the film, the unexpected path that has led him to where he is, and the joy he finds coaching sports teams on and off the screen.

Lisa sits down with author and humanitarian leader, Sharon Eubank, for a conversation about simple, meaningful ways to serve the people right in front of us. From discussing the heart behind JustServe.org to the quiet power of everyday volunteers, Sharon shares why the most impactful help doesn’t always come from big systems but from noticing, caring, and showing up. This episode is a reminder that the most powerful place to make a difference is exactly where you are.

Lisa sits down with Joseph Grenny, bestselling author of "Crucial Conversations," co-founder of Crucial Learning, and the visionary behind life-changing social programs like The Other Side Academy and The Other Side Village. Together they explore why breaking habits is a matter of skill--not will--and why real growth starts by evaluating the six sources of influence in our lives. Joseph Grenny was co-founder and president of California Computer Corporation. In 1990 he co-founded VitalSmarts, which today is one of the most respected corporate training and organizational development companies in the world, with clients representing 300 of the Fortune 500 companies and over 10,000 trainers across the world. Named the 2008 Business of the Year by The Association of Learning Providers, VitalSmarts has also been ranked four times by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing companies in America. Products resulting from Joseph’s research have been used to train over two million people worldwide. Joseph is co-author of seven books, including four immediate New York Times bestsellers–Crucial Conversations, Crucial Accountability, Influencer, and Change Anything. Over six million of Joseph’s books have been sold – and are standard texts in major universities across the world. In 2007, Joseph and his co-authors were named Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs of the Year for their work in founding and leading VitalSmarts. Joseph is the Chairman of the Board as well as a co-founder of Unitus Labs, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that manages the strategic direction and initiatives to achieve the Unitus mission of reducing global poverty through economic self-empowerment. The Unitus group of companies has deployed over $1 billion globally to battle poverty and to enable grass-roots entrepreneurship in developing countries and has reached over 20 million poor around the globe. In 2015, Joseph and his wife, Celia, joined a remarkable team to establish the first campus of The Other Side Academy (TOSA) with the goal of creating an opportunit