The Cultural Hall Podcast

Richie T Steadman
  • 4.6 (418)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

A place for members and non-members, mormons and non-mormons to discuss ANYTHING to do with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

  1. 1d ago

    Pig Pickin and cry for help AoN – 1062

    In this “Articles of News” episode, Richie and Verlin (our resident News Wizard) are tackling a packed listener inbox, playing a pretty wild Old Testament version of Smooch, Marry, Kill, and breaking down all the biggest stories happening around the Church right now. Banter & The Listener Inbox Verlin is joining us straight from the 1994-era Durham, North Carolina stake office—getting ready for some weekend ward cleaning and a massive “pig pickin'” (smoked pork and banana pudding, anyone?). Meanwhile, Richie recaps a high-energy DJ gig for the Nightingale nursing group and calls out listener Jack Marinello to step up his game in the Facebook comments. Plus, we dive into a great email from Chris about navigating the “Moco” (Mormon Corridor) and the tricky balance of separating actual gospel principles from institutional church culture. Global Church Leadership & Events Happy 94th Birthday to President Oaks! We chat about his first international trip as the 18th President of the Church to dedicate the Belo Horizonte, Brazil temple. We also touch on Elder Patrick Kearon’s powerful message at Education Week to a crowd of 15,000, where he urged everyone to “stop earning their worth.” Also on the docket: Elder Rasband’s MTC address on the current global missionary surge, Elder Villar championing religious freedom down in Peru, and the Institute centennial broadcast out of Johannesburg. Policy, BYU & Institute Updates What do you guys think about the new, 25-minute-shorter Sunday block schedule? We cover that, along with the digital release of 10 joyful new hymns and the new ward-level event RSVP feature rolling out on the app. Over in Provo, Education Week just wrapped up with 16,000 attendees focusing on Charity, and the new BYU School of Medicine announced an upcoming “Christ-Centered Physician” conference. Plus, Seminary and Institute enrollment has officially topped 1 million globally, thanks in large part to the “Invite a Friend” initiative. Culture & Retention Trends We dig into some shifting demographics today, specifically a BYU Studies report on the sharp decline in church retention among Gen Z women. We discuss the commentary pointing to politics, purity culture, and feelings of powerlessness as driving factors. We also look at some interesting Gallup data comparing lower European church participation to the high devotion metrics seen in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Finally, we share a laugh over a story about a YSA who shaved her head just to deter unwanted dates, and we discuss the viral Friend magazine article asking, “Are there any girl bishops?” Question of the Week: We want to hear from you! What was your biggest takeaway from Elder Kearon’s message about slowing down and no longer trying to “earn your worth”? The Cultural Hall, Articles of News, LDS podcast, Mormon Corridor, Smooch Marry Kill, Durham North Carolina, President Oaks, Belo Horizonte temple, Elder Kearon, Education Week, Elder Rasband, religious freedom, church schedule change, new hymns, BYU School of Medicine, Seminary and Institute, Gen Z retention, YSA dating, girl bishops The post Pig Pickin and cry for help AoN – 1062 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

  2. 6d ago

    Bishop Vader, I wish that Gangs were more Respectful

    First up, we debate a highly important question: what would your “walk-up” song be for speaking at Stake Conference? We’re throwing out everything from Michael McLean to Usher to the Imperial March. We also share some stories from a genuinely incredible trip on the Rocky Mountaineer train (those glass-dome roofs are top-tier) and countdown the final 90 days of wedding season. (If you still need a DJ, you know where to go: BestDJinUtah.com). We also read an awesome email from a listener in McGrath, Alberta, who took our advice for a Bear Lake trip, which naturally led us into a brand new round of Smooch, Marry, Kill: Villain Edition. If your ward bishop had to be Voldemort, Sauron, or Darth Vader… who are you picking? Then, we get into a pretty heavy and packed Articles of News: The Viral “Darth Vader” Devotional: Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge’s clip about staying in the Church—even if the culture was Alcatraz and Vader was your bishop—went viral. We break down the massive online debate it sparked. Copyrights & Lawsuits: The ACLU just filed an amicus brief in the Mormon Stories lawsuit. We talk about the reality of copyright protection and why this is one of thousands of similar suits filed every year. Arizona Supreme Court: We discuss a very difficult ruling out of AZ determining that clergy are not required to report child abuse disclosed during a confession. Kearns Tragedy: We touch on the heartbreaking news of a deadly shooting outside a local meetinghouse during a funeral. BYU Marriage Stats: The married student population at BYU has plummeted to just 17%. We talk about what’s causing the drop and the school’s new “date night” initiative to fix it. Chapel Layouts: Are the sacrament tables actually moving to the center of the rostrum? The post Bishop Vader, I wish that Gangs were more Respectful appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

  3. Aug 18

    Returning Stronger – Brooklyn and Jon Larsen – 1060

    On this episode of the Cultural Hall, we’re having a long-overdue conversation about something that affects so many families but doesn’t get talked about enough: returning home early from a mission. We sat down with Jon Larsen and his daughter Brooklyn to get real about their family’s journey through this exact experience. Brooklyn opens up about getting called to the Argentina Rosario Mission, the brutally exhausting travel to the Mexico City MTC, and how running on practically zero sleep quickly spiraled into severe anxiety and OCD. Jon brings a really valuable perspective, not just as a dad trying to support his daughter from thousands of miles away, but also as a mental health professional with 25 years of experience. He talks about the helplessness parents feel and the tricky balance of knowing when a missionary is just facing standard growth struggles versus when they are in a genuine mental or physical crisis. We get into the weeds of the cultural stigma surrounding early returns, how isolating and overwhelming it can feel when you first step off that plane alone, and what members can do to actually help instead of just ignoring the situation. Jon and Brooklyn also share the awesome new resource they’ve built together called Returning Stronger, which offers peer mentoring, coaching, and a six-week course designed to help missionaries and their families transition back to normal life. You can find more info and check out their resources at returningstronger.com. The post Returning Stronger – Brooklyn and Jon Larsen – 1060 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

  4. Aug 14

    Welding Another Link – Nathan Oman – 1059

    Welcome back to the Hall! This week, we’ve got legal scholar Nathan Oman hanging out with us to talk about his new book, Welding Another Link (out now from Kofford Books). Instead of one long, heavy academic argument, Nate’s book is a great collection of shorter essays. We get into his own life experiences and chat about what it actually means to live as a person of faith today. We talk about what it was like growing up right here in Salt Lake City, and how he balances those local roots with the wider world. One of my favorite parts of this episode is a great story about Nathan’s friendship with an Orthodox Jewish professor. Nathan actually buys his friend’s alcohol every Passover to help him keep his religious commitments—it’s a fascinating look at how we can bond with people of other faiths. We also get into the story behind the book’s title and why he chose it. Buy the Book And of course, we wrap things up with the traditional three questions! You’ll get to hear about his current calling teaching early morning seminary, his absolute dream calling, and what he loves most about being a Latter-day Saint. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Come hang out with us online, too—just search @theculturalhall on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, and TikTok. Link to Nathan’s Previous Episode 864 The post Welding Another Link – Nathan Oman – 1059 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

  5. Aug 11

    A Barn Full of Angels: The Life of Zera Pulsipher with Chad Nielsen 1058

    It’s time for another episode of The Cultural Hall! This week, we’re sitting down with Chad Nielsen. Trent over at Kofford Books pitched him to us as a “true Renaissance man,” and honestly, the shoe fits. By day, Chad works at a biotech research company in Salt Lake, but his real passion is geeking out over Latter-day Saint history. We’re talking about his new book, A Barn Full of Angels, a project that was 13 years in the making. It’s a deep dive into the life of his ancestor, Zerah Pulsipher. Even if you don’t immediately recognize the name, you know his impact: Zera is the guy who chopped through river ice in New York in the dead of winter to baptize Wilford Woodruff. Chad walks us through Zerah’s wild life, from his time leading the Kirtland Camp to trying to run a cattle operation out in the harsh, unpredictable terrain of Southern Utah’s Shoal Creek. We also don’t shy away from the messy stuff—we get into Zerah’s ecclesiastical trial with Brigham Young over an unauthorized plural marriage that ultimately led to his release from the First Quorum of the Seventy. Links & Resources: Grab your copy of A Barn Full of Angels by Chad Nielsen over at Kofford Books. Got a guest idea or a story we need to hear? Shoot us an email: contact@theculturalhall.com. As always, if you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and share it with a friend. We’ve saved a seat for you on the back row of The Cultural Hall! The post A Barn Full of Angels: The Life of Zera Pulsipher with Chad Nielsen 1058 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

  6. Aug 5

    Crumbl – The Savior of Cookies? AoN 1057

    In this episode, we explore a wide range of topics from cookie science and church news to community initiatives and personal stories, providing insights and inspiration for everyday life. Cookie making as chemistry and science Church news and community initiatives Mental health awareness and suicide prevention Leadership in faith and community service Innovative church programs and events The post Crumbl – The Savior of Cookies? AoN 1057 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

  7. Jul 31

    All News Minimal Fluff AoN 1056

    The post All News Minimal Fluff AoN 1056 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

  8. Jul 30

    The 5 Things I Learned From My Time with Carol Lynn Pearson – Episode 229

    Having Carol Lynn Pearson in The Cultural Hall for Episode 229 was one of those experiences that sticks with you long after the microphones are turned off. She is a poet, a playwright, and a pioneer in so many ways. True love means showing up when it’s hardest One of the most moving parts of our conversation was Carol Lynn detailing her 12-year marriage to Gerald Pearson. When he came out to her as gay, they navigated an amicable divorce, but their story didn’t end there. When Gerald contracted AIDS in the early 1980s, Carol Lynn brought him into her home and cared for him until he passed away. She taught me that true, Christlike love isn’t bound by traditional expectations. It’s about recognizing that “the same heart beats in every human breast” and showing up for the people we care about, no matter what. Bet on your own voice Before she was a household name in our culture, she was a young writer whose poetry couldn’t get traction with traditional publishers. Instead of giving up, she and Gerald borrowed $2,000 from a credit union, self-published her first book of poems, and convinced the BYU bookstore to sell it on consignment. It ended up selling hundreds of copies a month. Her story is a powerful reminder that if you feel a calling to create, you shouldn’t wait for a gatekeeper to give you permission. We desperately need the arts to keep our humanity intact Carol Lynn made a beautiful point about the balance between the sciences and the humanities. While we absolutely need the sciences to run the world, she emphasized that the human family desperately needs the arts and creativity to survive emotionally. When we dismiss the arts as “impractical,” we lose the very things that bring stability, empathy, and balance to our heads and our hearts. We have to be brave enough to confront our cultural “ghosts” Her latest book, The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy, tackles an incredibly painful and often ignored subject. Carol Lynn didn’t write it to tear people down; she wrote it because she saw the very real, modern-day pain this lingering doctrine causes women and men today. She taught me that we cannot heal if we refuse to look at the things causing us pain. It takes immense courage to look at a cultural “ghost” and say, “We need to do better.” You can advocate for change without walking away Through all of the friction, the heartbreak, and the difficult conversations she has sparked regarding the LGBTQ+ community and women’s inequality, Carol Lynn has maintained her faith and her place in the community. She didn’t let the pain drive her away. Instead, she chose to use her voice to carve out a safer, more compassionate space for the marginalized people sitting in the pews right next to us.   The post The 5 Things I Learned From My Time with Carol Lynn Pearson – Episode 229 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

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About

A place for members and non-members, mormons and non-mormons to discuss ANYTHING to do with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Information

  • Creator
    Richie T Steadman
  • Years Active
    2011 - 2026
  • Episodes
    309
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 607268
  • Show Website
    The Cultural Hall Podcast

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