Best Cardon Ellis Podcasts (2025)

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Adam and Eve’s Epic Rap Battle … & Calling Out BYU Scholars… 54:08

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12h ago54:08

54:08

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…

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BYU Reacts to President Nelson’s Death as a Prophet 12:33

3d ago12:33

12:33

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 …

1
He Was the Last Journalist to Talk to Charlie Kirk 29:09

4d ago29:09

29:09

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,…

1
Live, Laugh, and Love the Sword of Laban w/ Shadiversity 2:22:14

4d ago2:22:14

2:22:14

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

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Pearl of Great Price Explained… (You’ve Been Taught Wrong) 26:46

6d ago26:46

26:46

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 Gre…

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He Debated with Ed Decker and Was Sued for $27 Million (with Robert Starling) 45:58

8d ago45:58

45:58

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 pres…

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Data Scientist "Proves" The Book of Mormon is... 1:21:15

8d ago1:21:15

1:21:15

We react to conference and a recent video a data scientist did about the Book of Mormon.

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The Church is NOT Neutral on Evolution 1:09:38

9d ago1:09:38

1:09:38

The relationship between evolution and Latter-day Saint belief is more than a passing curiosity—it’s a source of tension that continues to spark debate in classrooms, chapels, and even at BYU’s own Bean Museum. In this episode of Ward Radio, the panel dives straight into the heart of the issue, asking why exhibits depicting apes evolving into human…

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Why Gen Z Is or Isn't Having More Kids at BYU 21:59

11d ago21:59

21:59

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Latter-Day Saint Christians Are Quickly Realizing Just How Much Regular "Christians' Hate Them... 38:45

13d ago38:45

38:45

For a really, really long time, most members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reasonably assumed that their shared love of Christ and his teachings meant they were "Christians" like the rest of the North American Church... well... if the Michigan Chapel Shooting and the reaction by many 'Christians' in North America is any indicat…

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Gen Z BYU Students React to Charlie Kirk's Passing Weeks Later 24:11

13d ago24:11

24:11

Cardon and BYU student Ella Kotzenbach reflect on the profound impact of Charlie Kirk’s assassination on the BYU and UVU communities.With on-the-ground student interviews from Haley, Maya McGavic, Ethan Clark, and Reese Schmidt, this episode captures the raw emotions, grief, and spiritual searching that swept across both campuses. From candlelight …

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BYU Dating is REALLY, REALLY Different Now… 40:43

14d ago40:43

40:43

What’s it really like to date at BYU? Ella Katzenbach joins Ward Radio to share her first-hand perspective on the unique—and sometimes hilarious—world of Latter-day Saint dating culture in Provo.From unwritten rules and blind dates to the tension between faith, friendship, and finding “the one,” Ella doesn’t hold back. She unpacks stereotypes, shar…

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Truth and Treason (with Matt Whitaker) 37:23

17d ago37:23

37:23

We are joined by filmmaker Matt Whitaker, director of Truth and Treason, to explore the remarkable life of Helmut Hübener, a teenage Latter-day Saint who dared to defy Nazi Germany. At only 17 years old, Helmut became the youngest resistance fighter executed by the Third Reich, standing against tyranny with nothing but courage, conviction, and the …

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What Happens When Christians Are At Odds With Government? (feat. Matt Whitaker) 1:42:30

17d ago1:42:30

1:42:30

Matt Whitaker, a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a prolific filmmaker is making a movie, "Truth & Treason" with Angel Studios and he swung by the Ward Radio studio to talk to us all about it!

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We Need to Vibe Check Baptisms for the Dead 28:23

18d ago28:23

28:23

What do baptisms for the dead really mean—and why do so many outsiders get it wrong? 🤔Cardon sits down with the crew for a lively, funny, and honest discussion about one of Mormonism’s unique rituals.The panel breaks down misconceptions about proxy baptisms (no, it’s not necromancy 😅), compares LDS rituals to cultural traditions like Texas football…

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Study Shows Mormons Have LESS Toxic Perfectionism 29:08

19d ago29:08

29:08

Is the LDS Church fueling “toxic perfectionism”… or protecting against it? 🤔 Cardon and Jonah Barnes take on one of the most common stereotypes about Latter-day Saints—that their faith drives unhealthy perfectionism, scrupulosity, and OCD-like tendencies. Referencing a major study by BYU professor Justin Dyer, they reveal surprising results: active…

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Why Every Young Person Needs Exposure To Apologetics 55:50

21d ago55:50

55:50

Cardon and co-host Austin sit down with Drew Scarborough, Joseph Gambot, and Kwaku L. to unpack a timely question: Why do young people in the Church need apologetics now more than ever? Joe shares how he nearly lost his faith after a flood of anti-LDS content online—but found his way back through honest, bold apologetics. Drew opens up about drifti…

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Dead Sea Scroll Stylometry Proves The Bible Was Forged and the Book of Mormon is True! 1:49:27

22d ago1:49:27

1:49:27

We are just trying to "follow the science" here, people... all the way to church. And, fortunately for us, stylometric A.I. has just figured out that Deuteronomy was basically forged, and the Book of Mormon wasn't... we don't make the rules.

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Top 3 Myths on the Book of Abraham with Kerry Muhlestein 28:23

23d ago28:23

28:23

The Book of Abraham is one of the most controversial parts of Latter-day Saint scripture. Critics claim Joseph Smith couldn’t have translated it, the facsimiles don’t match, and there’s no evidence supporting his account. Egyptologist Kerry Muhlestein joins Cardon to break it all down.Together, they tackle the top 3 “killer arguments” against the B…

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Debunking a Christian Ambushing Grifter 26:48

28d ago26:48

26:48

Ambushing young LDS missionaries for YouTube clicks isn’t bold—it’s exploitation.Cardon Ellis, his son Ryder, and associate professor Jonah Barnes call out the rise of content creators like “Christian Muhammad” who build platforms by cornering missionaries with loaded questions, then editing the footage to make them look unprepared.But are the miss…

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Peace-making Advice from a Libertarian.. and Jim Bennett! 2:14:06

30d ago2:14:06

2:14:06

As members of the church, we are constantly admonished to "be peacemakers", but that lofty ideal is difficult to distill into practical, every-day action. In this video we discuss with Loren Dean, the leader of the California Libertarian Party, who happens to be members, how to actually do this in real life.…

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Top 5 MISTAKES People Make About the Book of Abraham (with Kerry Muhlestein) 52:25

30d ago52:25

52:25

Cardon sits down with Egyptologist Kerry Muhlestein to unpack the myths, assumptions, and lazy learning that dominate conversations about the Book of Abraham. Together, they challenge the sound-bite culture that treats skepticism as “objective” and faith as “biased,” showing how both sides often rely on unproven assumptions.Kerry explains why secon…

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Charlie Kirk's Legacy is Already Beginning... 1:37:17

30d ago1:37:17

1:37:17

If there is a silver lining in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, it is the entire new generation of movements of positivity and Christianity that have been inspired. Thomas Lundberg is one of those inspired men and his 501(c)3, "Gathering Israel", is doubling its efforts to introduce people to Christ worldwide.…

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Livestream with Dave Butler and Larry Correia 1:57:23

30d ago1:57:23

1:57:23

All kinds of members are succeeding in the Science Fiction and Fantasy author space and Dave Butler is one of them, but he is not the only one. Today we welcome Larry Correia to the Ward Radio Wigwam to teach us his whimsical wizardry of wordsmithing... that was a horrible attempt at an erudite alliteration.…

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He Was The Last Journalist To Profile Charlie Kirk, and the First To Announce His Assassination 29:10

30d ago29:10

29:10

The last journalist to profile Charlie Kirk was also the first to announce his assassination. Meet Brigham Tomco, a dedicated young journalist at the Deseret News. He's intelligent, witty, and a mixture of Buster Keaton and All The President's Men. I don't think he realizes how his name has already been etched into the book of journalism history, b…

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10 Reasons to Believe the Book of Abraham (with Kerry Muhlestein) 39:25

1M ago39:25

39:25

Cardon sits down with Egyptologist Kerry Muhlestein to explore the “Top 10 Reasons to Believe in the Book of Abraham.” Their conversation moves beyond defensive apologetics into a thoughtful, candid, and sometimes lighthearted discussion of why the Book of Abraham deserves to be read as both an authentic ancient text and a source of profound spirit…

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Capitalist Priestcrafting Pigs or Faith Influencing Influencers? 37:40

1M ago37:40

37:40

Is selling LDS-themed products really “priestcraft,” or just another double standard in our culture? Cardon and co-host Austin, together with David Love, and the guys from No Unhallowed Hand dive into the controversy with humor and honesty—tackling everything from tiny 3D temples to LDS socks, and why creative labor in the church often gets underva…

1
He Sold His House to Make THIS Film 30:15

1M ago30:15

30:15

What would drive someone to sell their home and risk everything for a film?In this heartfelt episode of WARD RADIO, host Cardon Ellis and co-host Austin sit down with filmmaker Dalen Pollard, who sold his house to create Woman in Christ—a documentary spotlighting the real, faithful lives of Latter-day Saint women.Dalen shares the highs and lows of …

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Tower of Babel: A Scientific Explanation? 26:00

1M ago26:00

26:00

Was the Tower of Babel really about God magically inventing new languages? Or could it have been something far more physical, natural, and scientific?In this fascinating episode, guest Jerry Grover joins host Cardon Ellis to propose a groundbreaking reinterpretation of the biblical Babel account. Drawing from the Book of Ether, floodplain studies, …

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Can Mormon Truth Claims Survive Modern Scrutiny? (Debunking Nemo the Mormon) 1:00:30

1M ago1:00:30

1:00:30

What does it really mean when Latter-day Saints say, “I know the Church is true”?In this episode, we respond to a recent video by Nemo the Mormon that critiques the epistemological basis of LDS testimonies. Do Mormons overstate certainty when they bear testimony, or is “knowing” in religion deeper than empirical evidence?📚 Book recommendations incl…

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LDS Church EXPLODES in Tanzania! 🌍 10:04

2M ago10:04

10:04

The LDS Church in Tanzania just went from decades of stagnation to explosive growth. 🚀In this episode, Cardon and Jonah break down the “Tanzania turnaround” — what sparked it, why it matters, and what it teaches about Church growth worldwide. Along the way, they mix humor (a “Mount Kilimanjaro Temple”? 🏔️) with real insights about missions, leaders…

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Modern Feminism Doesn’t Work Here 48:14

2M ago48:14

48:14

Tikla Fife offers a frank and faithful perspective on modern feminism in Latter-day Saint culture. She examines the influence of secular ideas, how women’s roles and callings function within Church structure, and the risks of turning pain into polarization.What does it really mean to "listen to women"? Are equality and sameness the same thing? And …

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The Church Paid $153 Million for WHAT??! 25:00

2M ago25:00

25:00

Cardon and Jonah break down the facts behind the LDS Church’s recent $152.5 million real estate purchase in Boca Raton, Florida.Was it tithing money from widows, as critics claim—or investment income fueling long-term humanitarian aid? The hosts cut through the online rumors, examine the numbers, and compare this deal to the Church’s $1.5 billion i…

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Holy Rhetoric Meets Political Chaos 54:27

2M ago54:27

54:27

How much of January 6th was really about faith? We investigate the claims that charismatic Protestant movements—especially the New Apostolic Reformation—played a key role in the Capitol riot. From Christian nationalist rhetoric to overt displays of religious symbolism, we dig into where spiritual conviction met political passion.…

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Ten 'Mormon' Men Just Made The Worst Decision Of Their Single Lives... 40:11

2M ago40:11

40:11

They call the show "The Altar"... and we reacted to it.

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The Apocryphal Secret Behind Lucifer’s Fall (with Jonah Barnes) 32:52

2M ago32:52

32:52

What really caused Lucifer’s fall? In this episode, we sit down with Jonah Barnes—author of The Lost Gems of Genesis—to uncover a shocking theme hiding in the Apocrypha: Lucifer rebelled not because he was denied the role of Redeemer, but because he was jealous of Adam. Ancient texts repeatedly describe Lucifer’s desire to be the first man—and his …

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New Research Exposes the Truth About America’s ‘Nones’ (with Jonah Barnes) 23:18

2M ago23:18

23:18

Everyone’s talking about the rise of the “nones” — the growing number of Americans with no religion. But new research reveals they’re not all the same. In this episode, we break down the four surprising subgroups uncovered by Ryan Burge’s massive study of 12,000 people.From the NINOs (None In Name Only) who still pray, to the SBNRs (Spiritual But N…

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Ancient Codes Inside the Book of Mormon 22:32

2M ago22:32

22:32

Could the Book of Mormon be structured around sacred numbers? In this fascinating discussion, Jerry Grover joins Ward Radio to reveal striking patterns found in the text and their connection to ancient Mesoamerican and Hebrew traditions.From the mysterious numbers in the “characters document” to the symbolic year counts in Fourth Nephi and Ether, w…

1
Are Men Being Pushed Out? 43:28

2M ago43:28

43:28

What if the biggest cultural shift today isn’t about demographics—but about fathers, faith, and the family itself? In this roundtable episode of Ward Radio, Cardon Ellis and guests dig into how men’s traditional roles are being replaced, and what that means for modern religious life.From the rise of “substitutional patriarchy” (when government and …

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What Happens When You Talk to One Stranger a Day... for Years? 26:26

2M ago26:26

26:26

📍 Hollywood director-turned-storyteller Richard Radstone joins us on Ward Radio to reveal the real story behind Sidewalk Ghosts — a daily blog that turned into a spiritual movement. What started on the streets of L.A. became a global call to empathy, vulnerability, and living your faith forward.

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This is Why Empathy Still Wins 24:13

2M ago24:13

24:13

What happens when you pause long enough to truly hear a stranger’s story? Richard Radstone did exactly that—and turned it into Sidewalk Ghosts, a grassroots movement that’s redefining connection, one conversation at a time.In this episode, we continue our sit-down with Radstone to explore how faith, storytelling, and raw human vulnerability can bre…

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The Healing We Don’t Talk About 10:54

2M ago10:54

10:54

In this special final episode with Richard Radstone, things slow down—and go deep.This isn't about headlines, career highlights, or even hot takes. It's about God, grief, and the long road to healing.Richard opens up about the spiritual fallout of loss, the search for redemption, and the hard-won lessons that only come through heartbreak. This is t…

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Defending LDS Women From ANOTHER Evangelical Ambush on The Dr. Daf Show 2:32:21

2M ago2:32:21

2:32:21

Evangelical profiteers can't make their money debating members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on equal footing so they always must resort to evangelical ambushes... and the latest one comes from the Dr. Daf Show. In this video we react.

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Debunking Anti-Mormon Josh Benson and Other Religious Bigots 1:28:42

2M ago1:28:42

1:28:42

A lot of people used to like Josh Benson for his wholesome entertainment... until religious bigotry became on of his offerings. In this video we debunk some of his worst anti-Mormon religious tropes.

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Aaron Sherinian, LDX, and Why We Can't Have Nice Things... 1:40:54

2M ago1:40:54

1:40:54

In this video we will discuss the fallout surrounding Aaron Sherinian's appearance at FAIR Mormon, LDX's gross response, and why we can't have nice things...

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They Called It "Biggest Apologetic Nightmare For Mormons" So We Debunked Them...Again 40:00

3M ago40:00

40:00

Recently, we challenged the YouTube Channel "Testify" and their mischaracterization of the Prophet Joseph Smith (and Muhammad)... but the video we were debunkind didn't just stop there... it kept going into Abaraham! So we kept going too! Enjoy.

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The Real Life "Lord Of The Flies" Boys Were MORMONS! 23:07

3M ago23:07

23:07

🎸 Discover the untold story of resilience and faith as six Tongan Mormon boys navigate the trials of being marooned on a remote island for 15 months. Far from descending into chaos, these young men exemplified leadership and cooperation, crafting a life out of the island's sparse offerings. They built a community based on shared responsibilities, d…

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SECRETS in the Book of Enoch only MORMONS Can Understand! 49:24

3M ago49:24

49:24

Discover the intriguing connections between the Book of Enoch and Mormon theology in this deep dive into religious texts and revelations. This video explores why Mormons have a unique understanding of the Book of Enoch, largely due to Joseph Smith's revelations which align with ancient texts discovered long after his time. The discussion delves int…

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Can You Keep Your Covenants in Hollywood?! A Reaction to Saints Unscripted 34:06

3M ago34:06

34:06

“Beats, Boundaries, and Belief: Can You Make It in Music Without Losing Your Faith?”A lot of people ask if "you can keep your covenants in Hollywood". The show, Saints Unscripted, recently made an entire show talking about this. As a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I had to respond, so I invited my buddy, Jonah B…

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Debunking Evangelical Claim Joseph Smith Was a "Self-Certifying Prophet" 46:14

3M ago46:14

46:14

A recent trend amongst anti-Mormon sectarians and Creedists is that "Joseph smith was a self-certifying prophet", amongst other things... and they cite the Book of Genesis and the Joseph smith Translation's "extra verses" as evidence. Are they correct, or just recycling anti-Mormon tropes.