Live, Laugh, and Love the Sword of Laban w/ Shadiversity

Cardon is joined by Austin and Brittany with their guests, BYU students Carly, Joe and Drew. They tackle one of the most persistent questions and stereotypes surrounding Brigham Young University (BYU): Is BYU really "this way"?The conversation kicks off with a playful analysis of a viral campus interview video titled “Utah Mormons are Different,” where BYU students are asked tongue-in-cheek questions about dating, marriage, and BYU culture. They react to answers that seem to play into stereotypes, like needing to convert and get married in the temple to "pull" a Mormon, RMs (returned missionaries) pursuing recent high school graduates, and the much-memed BYU engagement timeline ("my neighbors dated for a week before getting engaged").

Elder TikTok tells all! This discussion dives into his unique origin story, his mission as a content creator, and the impact he hopes to have on both LDS and non-LDS audiences.

Cardon Ellis and Jonah Barnes are joined by guest Austin Falter to react to the trailer for “Young Washington,” Angel Studios’ upcoming film about the early life of George Washington. The conversation quickly becomes an engaging blend of movie hype, historical commentary, and playful banter.The group is immediately excited by the quality of the trailer, with Andy Serkis (famously known for playing Gollum) appearing to be part of the cast, eliciting awe from the hosts. They draw visual and atmospheric comparisons to “Pirates of the Caribbean” and praise the film’s top-tier sound design, costuming, and lighting, expressing genuine excitement for its July 3, 2026 release, which coincides with the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Cardon and Jonah Barnes dive deep into scripture, scholarship, and the culture of LDS academia.The discussion begins playfully as Jonah explores chiasmus—a poetic structure in ancient texts—within the Book of Moses. He highlights a striking pattern between Adam and Eve’s statements after the Fall, jokingly calling it their “epic rap battle.” Adam’s partial chiasmus is countered by Eve’s bold, complete one, centering the doctrine of the “fortunate fall.” Jonah notes this insight hasn’t appeared in scholarly literature, making the discovery all the more thrilling.

This episode dives into the controversies and complexities surrounding Elder TikTok, a well-known LDS TikTok personality who’s faced repeated cancellation and criticism throughout his social media career. The hosts Cardon Ellis, Jonah Barnes, and guest Austin Falter discuss both the specific recent incidents and the broader cultural context in which Elder TikTok operates.

Cardon Ellis is joined by Ella Katzenbach, who put together both an article and a video on the topic, capturing authentic responses from fellow students on campus. This episode centers around the immediate student reactions at BYU to the passing of President Russell M. Nelson, the late prophet and leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The conversation opens with Cardon and Ella discussing the news of President Nelson’s death, which sadly was overshadowed in broader media by a tragic shooting in Michigan that same day. Despite this, Ella was able to gauge campus sentiment and conduct interviews with several students.

When Deseret News journalist Brigham Tomko sat down to profile Charlie Kirk, he didn’t know it would become the last interview before Kirk’s shocking assassination.In this episode of Ward Radio, host Cardon Ellis dives deep with Brigham into that story — from the tense 36 hours that followed the breaking news, to what Kirk revealed about his faith, prayer life, and the “bloodsport” of politics just days before his death.They also tackle big questions about journalism, bias, and belief. Is Deseret News a faith-driven voice for truth—or “Mormon propaganda,” as some critics claim? Brigham answers with insight and humor, unpacking how the paper balances transparency, editorial independence, and a Latter-day Saint worldview.Beyond the headline story, this conversation explores what it means to tell stories that matter—to seek light and truth even in tragedy.

Shad Brooks, also known as "Shadiversity" comes in studio to talk about the sword of Laban and "peacemaking" of all things.

Most Latter-day Saints think they know what the Pearl of Great Price is—but what if we’ve all been misunderstanding it? Cardon sits down with Jonah Barnes, author of Lost Gems of Genesis, to uncover the overlooked origins, revelations, and hidden depth of one of the Church’s most fascinating volumes of scripture. Jonah reveals that the Pearl of Great Price isn’t one continuous text, but a compilation of distinct revelations—given to Joseph Smith, Moses, and Adam at different times. He clears up major misconceptions about the so-called Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis, explaining why it’s not really a “translation” at all. The conversation dives into: The real story behind the Pearl of Great Price’s compilation, how the “lost 116 pages” might connect to Genesis material, why Joseph Smith’s revelations show unmatched originality, and yes—why Jonah calls the Pearl of Great Price the “Oops, All Berries” of scripture. Whether you’re a lifelong member or just curious about the foundations of Latter-day Saint belief, this episode will change how you read the scriptures forever.

When The God Makers hit the scene in the 1980s, it became one of the most infamous and damaging anti-Mormon films ever produced. In this episode of Ward Radio, we sit down with Robert Starling—author of A Case for Latter-day Christianity—to hear the inside story of how he confronted it head-on.Robert opens up about his time as a stake mission president and media specialist in Los Angeles, where he carefully tracked anti-LDS campaigns and uncovered the deceptive tactics behind The God Makers. He details his painstaking rebuttal of the film, identifying dozens of falsehoods, distortions, and outright fabrications used to misrepresent Latter-day Saint belief. His defense didn’t come without cost—Starling was dragged into a $27 million lawsuit simply for standing up for his faith and telling the truth.This conversation is more than a history lesson. It’s a gripping reminder of the spiritual battles fought not with weapons, but with words, research, and conviction. Robert’s story shows how ordinary Saints, armed with courage and testimony, can push back against misrepresentation and protect their faith community from attack.