Fight Them With Strudels and Chess

In this engaging episode of Ward Radio, host Cardon Ellis gathers an energetic and insightful panel including Shad Brooks (Shadiversity), Ben, Jonah Barnes, Brad Whitbeck, and Austin Falter. The focus is on the deep philosophical and spiritual question: “What is the nature of truth?”The conversation opens with some lighthearted banter about the logistics of recording and the panel’s camaraderie, but quickly pivots into more serious territory. Shad Brooks (Shadiversity) sets up the discussion by challenging the notion that truth is simply a matter of factual accuracy. Instead, he proposes that truth is deeply connected to the impact it has on people’s behavior—specifically, does it help us become more like God?

In this light-hearted but thoughtful episode, the panel kicks off with banter around the unusual title “Fight Them With Strudels.” Cardon Ellis asks Jonah Barnes to illuminate the meaning behind the phrase. Jonah Barnes narrates a real-life story involving his father, drawing from both Mormon history and personal experience, to demonstrate the idea: when faced with hostility, particularly anti-Mormon sentiment, responding with unexpected kindness like delivering a strudel instead of engaging in debate or confrontation can disarm animosity and build bridges.The episode digs into a specific example involving a tragic event in Michigan and a heated rant against Mormons by Larry Lawrence o', Donnell,, an outspoken commentator. Through these episodes, Jonah Barnes highlights how members of the faith have chosen compassion, such as fundraising for the family of a perpetrator, and the humorous strudel tradition that emerged: delivering baked goods to the homes of those who were critical or adversarial.

In this thought-provoking WARD RADIO livestream, host Cardon Ellis sits down with Brigham Tomko from Deseret News to discuss seismic shifts happening within Gen Z conservatives. The conversation unpacks how younger conservatives are increasingly diverging from the values and approaches of their boomer counterparts, marking a pivotal generational break within the American right.The discussion is rooted in real stories and recent polling data. Brigham Tomko illuminates the complexities facing Gen Z conservatives, spotlighting key issues such as home affordability, economic anxieties, disillusionment with traditional pathways, and especially, a sharp skepticism towards America's relationship with Israel. In fact, Gen Z’s more critical outlook on U.S. foreign aid and alliances—particularly with Israel—stands in stark contrast to the near-unquestioning support commonly seen among older conservatives.

🎙️ The Man Who Tried to “Infiltrate” the Mormons? | WARD RADIOCardon Ellis, Jonah Barnes, and Austin Falter dive into one of the strangest viral stories making the rounds online, a man claiming he nearly infiltrated the Mormon Church from the inside.It all begins with a podcast clip from “Sips with Sarah,” where the other Ish of Arabia boldly declares his plan: join the Church, climb the ranks, and expose it from within using “charismatic speaking skills.” What follows is a hilarious and eye-opening breakdown by the Ward Radio team, who can’t help but marvel at the misunderstandings baked into the story.

Cardon Ellis, co-host Jonah Barnes, and special guest Dr. Lincoln Blumel from BYU dive into one of the most intriguing and recently solved mysteries from the New Testament.The episode centers around Dr. Blumel’s groundbreaking discovery: the real identity of the "elect lady" mentioned in Second John in the Bible. For nearly 2,000 years, scholars and translators have debated whether the recipient of the letter was a metaphor, a church, or an unnamed woman. Dr. Blumel’s scholarship and expertise in ancient Greek papyri led him to the revelation that the "elect lady" wasn’t a metaphor at all—but a real woman named Eclecta, whose name was obscured due to a minor but significant transcription error in ancient Greek manuscripts.

Feminism, Faith & the Power of Womanhood in the LDS Church | WARD RADIOIn this candid and deeply insightful conversation, Cardon Ellis sits down with Laura E. Welch for a refreshing, grounded exploration of feminism, motherhood, and what it truly means to be a woman in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.What begins with playful banter over episode titles quickly turns into a meaningful dive into why so many LDS women find more fulfillment in motherhood, service, and faith-driven community than in the narratives secular feminism offers. Laura shares her own journey—how, despite criticisms that the Church is “male-dominated,” her lived experience has been one of support, unity, and empowerment rooted in gospel principles.

Did Brigham Young really teach that Adam was God? In this powerful and clarifying episode of WARD RADIO, hosts Jonah Barnes, Austin Falter, and Cardon Ellis dive deep into one of the most misunderstood topics in Latter-day Saint history — the so-called Adam-God Theory.From historical documents to punctuation changes that flipped entire meanings, this conversation exposes how copy errors, misquotes, and 19th-century shorthand turned a handful of ambiguous statements into one of Mormonism’s biggest controversies.With the help of scholars like Richard Brunson and Elden Watson, Jonah Barnes breaks down original sources, including the Journal of Discourses and the Joseph Smith Papers, to show how a misplaced comma or title misunderstanding (“Adam” as a title, not a name) created theological confusion that critics have weaponized for decades.Together, the hosts show how Brigham Young’s real teachings fit within LDS doctrine — not against it — and offer comfort to those whose faith has been shaken by online debates or anti-Mormon claims.

Cardon Ellis sits down with Richard Brunson, author of “Before the Second Coming,” to explore the lesser-known and more symbolic indicators of Christ’s Second Coming. Rather than focusing solely on popular concepts like the Mark of the Beast or the Rapture, the conversation delves into the deep scriptural “types and shadows” that foreshadow Christ’s return.Richard Brunson explains what a “type” is—a symbolic instance or event that represents something greater or prophetic. The discussion highlights how many scriptural types typically point to Christ’s first coming (such as Jonah as a sign, or the Passover lamb as symbolic of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice), before pivoting toward symbols relating to his Second Coming that are often overlooked.

Cardon Ellis welcomes Rick McGee from Springfield, Missouri, to dive deep into why Missouri (especially its Mormon community) is experiencing rapid growth and renewed attention.Cardon opens with some humorous behind-the-scenes banter as the two get settled, setting the tone for a relaxed, candid conversation. The main catalyst for the discussion is the noticeable surge of Latter-day Saint (Mormon) families and professionals moving into Missouri, particularly triggered by the recent announcement of a third temple being built in Springfield. Rick explains that historically, waves of Mormons have moved to Missouri for spiritual reasons—inspired by the area’s doctrinal significance in LDS history and prophecies related to Zion and Adam-ondi-Ahman—but lately, practical reasons like economics, job opportunities, and affordability are also major factors.

Ward Radio dives into the mystery and significance of the Cologne Mani Codex, an ancient manuscript connected to the Manichean faith and its founder Mani, a Parthian prophet from third-century Iran. Cardinal Ellis leads the conversation, joined by Jonah Barnes, a scholar of apocryphal texts, and Austin Falter, who contributes his perspective and plugs his book, “Family A Rhyming Proclamation for Kids.”