Holy Earth

Lydia Theobald and Dr. Phil Fernberg
  • 4.7 (13)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Bimonthly

Welcome to Holy Earth, a podcast dedicated to the intersection of faith and sustainability in the Latter-day Saint tradition, with hosts Phil Fernberg PhD and Lydia Theobald. Holy Earth is brought to you by LDS Earth Stewardship, with the support of a generous donation from The Nature Conservancy.

  1. 7h ago

    What Farming Taught Us About God

    In this episode of Holy Earth, hosts Lydia Theobald and Phil Fernberg sit down with Thayne, Cari, Laci, and Chad Tagge of Tagge Farms in Perry, Utah — a fourth-generation family farm, famous across Utah for Brigham City peaches, Willard Bay blackberries, sweet corn, and more. They discuss their innovative methods to get water to the Great Salt Lake, how they mentor other farmers on water conservation, and much more. To preserve it for future generations, the Tagge Farm is being passed on to Laci and Chad, held in a Legacy Trust. Read the story here: https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/07/17/utah-farmer-ensures-orchard-wont/ We dig into: 💧 How their water stewardship innovation is helping save the Great Salt Lake 🍑 How Thayne and Cari's love story began selling Bear Lake raspberries roadside — and how one peach order turned into buying their first orchard 🌱 Chad's decision to leave a PhD-level engineering career to return to the family farm and carry on the legacy 💧 The unique microclimate that makes the Perry/Willard area perfect for growing tree fruit — and how drip irrigation and smart water management help conserve this precious resource ⛪ Why the Tagges see farming as a sacred stewardship, not just a business — and how their faith shapes their care for the land 🌊 A stewardship story from Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship media coordinator Alexa Roskelly on Utah farmers as "water heroes" amid the Great Salt Lake water crisis 📖 Reflections on gratitude, conservation, and scripture (D&C 59) as it relates to caring for the earth Plus, listener mailbag highlights from our previous conversation with Phil Bruick on national parks and finding stillness in nature. 🌳 Get Involved: Enter the Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship Art & Writing Contest — theme "Every Good Tree" — deadline September 19th. Cash prizes and features on our blog, newsletter, and the Our Trees website/podcast. Chapters: 0:00 – Intro & Earth Stewardship Art Contest Announcement 4:09 – Stewardship Spotlight: Utah Farmers as Water Heroes 9:51 – Meet the Tagge Family: From Bear Lake Raspberries to Brigham City Peaches 19:36 – Drip Irrigation & Water Conservation at Tagge Farms 34:32 – Why Local Farming Matters for the Great Salt Lake 40:00 – Passing the Torch: The Next Generation of Tagge Farms Links: LDSES “Every Good Tree” writing contest: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rg75r8xAQ4iHXHjPFlGYqBKdUvV5uRrXnuuFGenUFWE/edit?usp=sharing LDSES “Every Good Tree” art exhibit submission info: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SyeKcLcuq5jYcB3wsIzEm5djylw9gJQ7Q38GDPIa9As/edit?usp=sharing Latter-Day Saint Earth Stewardship “Water Heroes” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utahldsearthstewardship/reels/ Holy Earth Podcast Website: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/holy-earth-podcast/ Holy Earth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holyearthpodcast/ Holy Earth on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@holy.earth.podcast Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/ LDS Earth Stewardship on JustServe.org: https://www.justserve.org/ldsearthstewardship LDS Earth Stewardship Monthly Newsletter registration: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/what-we-do/ Deseret News—Church of Jesus Christ leaders call on Utah members to conserve water: https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/07/06/church-of-jesus-christ-leaders-ask-utah-members-to-conserve-water/ Tagge’s Famous Fruit and Veggie Farms website: https://www.taggesfruit.com/ Tagge Community Supported CSC program: Holy Earth episode featuring National Park Service veteran Phil Brueck: https://youtu.be/S0eRIEuVT7Y?si=2cYg9-l0Fy179u6O

    What Farming Taught Us About God

  2. Jul 14

    This Scientist Played the Saddest Song in the World

    The call of the extinct Kauai O'o bird has been called the saddest song in the world—a final, unanswered plea from the last of its species. In this powerful keynote address from the 2025 Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship Fall Forum, Brigham Young University biologist and author Dr. Stephen L. Peck uses this haunting soundscape to dive deep into what it truly means to be embodied beings on a sacred planet. Blending the cold, hard facts of evolutionary ecology with poetry, philosophy, and original nature recordings, Dr. Peck explores the profound connections between human faith and scientific discovery. From the quiet majesty of a midnight thunderstorm in Idaho to the synchronized courtship dances of the Blue Manakin, this presentation challenges us to look past the "blizzard" of digital noise and confront both the grief of environmental loss and the profound reasons for hope. Chapters: 0:00 - The Last Song of the Kauai O'o Bird 0:54 - Faith and Earth Stewardship Keynote Introduction 3:26 - Dr. Steven L. Peck and The Theology of Embodiment and Bird Songs 11:00 - Recording Nature: Coyotes, Thunderstorms, and Soundscapes 17:00 - Overcoming Despair: The Scientist Who Wept for Coral Reefs 21:00 - Alfred North Whitehead: Why Nature is Holy 25:00 - Animal Agency and Consciousness in the Wild 28:10 - Blue Manikin mating dance with Richard Attenborough narration 35:00 - Lessons from Easter Island: The Importance of Care 39:16 - Reconciling Grief and Hope in Environmental Activism 41:47 - Upcoming 2026 Fall Forum: Every Good Tree Details Links: 2025 Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship Fall Forum featuring keynote address from Brigham Young University Dr. Steven L. Peck: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F09nkBiWHBY&t=1s Link to the registration site for the 2026 Fall Forum (registrations opening soon): https://ldsearthstewardship.org/every-good-tree-2026-ldses-fall-forum/ “Our Trees” art show and writing contest: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/every-good-tree-2026-ldses-fall-forum/https://ldsearthstewardship.org/every-good-tree-2026-ldses-fall-forum/ Nalini Nadkarni on the Holy Earth podcast: https://youtu.be/5KJL0Q0gIws?si=r1AWGj0dHKn060Us Nalini Nadkarni celebrates America’s Keystone Species at Redwood National Park: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaYtF7zibg0/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCNews/videos/national-geographic-explorer-dr-nalini-nadkarni-who-has-studied-tree-canopies-fo/1450893243748194/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abcnews/video/7658788334730300702 National Geographic Keystone Initiatives: https://news.nationalgeographic.org/american-keystones-initiative/ Holy Earth Podcast Website: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/holy-earth-podcast/ Holy Earth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holyearthpodcast/ Holy Earth on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@holy.earth.podcast Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/ Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship Annual Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LHhs-YHiQ1VoFCN6BpTVK0NUruN-esCm/view Donate to Latter-Day Saint Earth Stewardship: https://ldsearthstewardship.networkforgood.com/

    This Scientist Played the Saddest Song in the World

  3. Jun 30

    A Stake Patriarch on America's best idea. The inspired Constitution or our National Parks?

    Phil Brueck, a career National Park Manager, currently serving as a Stake Patriarch for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, talks with Lydia and Phil about the inspired American Constitution, National Parks (“America’s Best Idea”), and what America got right and wrong about Earth Stewardship in the past 250 years. And we have a short review of Elder Gong’s recent video addressing the ecological concerns with artificial intelligence and AI data centers. Chapters: 00:00 - 01:05 National Parks tell the story of our History 01:05 - 03:35 Intro & the upcoming Darren Parry Book Club 03:35 - 9:35Elder Gerrit W. Gong on Artificial Intelligence and AI Data Centers 09:35 - 14:55 Phil Brueck growing up in and managing national parks 14:55 - 23:25 The inspired Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Public Lands, and Faith 23:25 - 31:40 250 years of good and bad history, and earth stewardship 31:40 - 34:40 The impact on America's “Best Idea” on the rest of the world 34:40 - 39:10 The biggest challenges to America’s National Parks 39:10 - 42:50 What America got right and wrong in our stewardship, in 250 years 42:50 - 45:15 What our listeners can do today to start blessing the earth 45:15 - 51:22 The most recent place Phil felt a deep sense of awe and wonder? 51:22 - 59:23 Audience Feedback review - Sister Sharon Eubank on trusted networks Links: Link to register for the July 1 2026 Latter-Day Saint “Live with the Author” Bookclub, featuring Darren Parry, the former Chairman of the Northern Shoshone Nation. We will discuss his book “Tending the Sacred: How Indigenous Wisdom Will Save the World”: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/XNF4_ETHTrO-chVLYJ4V2g#/registration Darren Parry 2025 appearance on the Holy Earth Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNCxXr-LSks Elder Gong YouTube “Hearing God’s Voice in an Age of AI” Video on Artificial Intelligence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZZPFv-x33M&list=PLxqHUSaz3tD6pBocjMhauGfJH9tNtsO5g with a segment specifically addressing the environment and the natural world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFCluYiD8LA&list=PLxqHUSaz3tD6pBocjMhauGfJH9tNtsO5g&index=5 LDSES “Every Good Tree” writing contest: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rg75r8xAQ4iHXHjPFlGYqBKdUvV5uRrXnuuFGenUFWE/edit?usp=sharing LDSES “Every Good Tree” art exhibit submission info: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SyeKcLcuq5jYcB3wsIzEm5djylw9gJQ7Q38GDPIa9As/edit?usp=sharing Holy Earth Podcast Website: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/holy-earth-podcast/ Holy Earth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holyearthpodcast/ Holy Earth on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@holy.earth.podcast Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/ The Inspired Constitution on Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.org: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/celebrating-freedom-and-agency/01?lang=eng LDS Earth Stewardship on JustServe.org: https://www.justserve.org/ldsearthstewardship LDS Earth Stewardship Monthly Newsletter registration: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/what-we-do/ Sharon Eubank’s appearance on the LDSES book club: https://youtu.be/hUh46MshWbs?si=KiE8jeoRjwyLfE5n Caring for Those in Need: 2025 Report (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints): https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/serve/caring/report?lang=eng

    A Stake Patriarch on America's best idea. The inspired Constitution or our National Parks?

  4. Jun 9

    Sharon Eubank Wrote a Book on Helping People — Then Admitted She Left Out the Most Important Part

    For those of you who missed Sharon Eubank live on the February 2026 Latter-Day Saint Earth Stewardship Book Club talking about her new book "Doing Small Things With Great Love," we replay that event, with all of its surprises, insights, and inspirations. #EverySaintASteward Links: Holy Earth Podcast Website: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/holy-earth-podcast/ Holy Earth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holyearthpodcast/ Holy Earth on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@holy.earth.podcast Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/ 2026 “Our Trees” art show and writing contest: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/every-good-tree-2026-ldses-fall-forum/ Sharon Eubank’s new book on Amazon: Doing Small Things with Great Love Sharon Eubank’s appearance on the October 2025 Holy Earth Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lCBdH3YMLI Darren Parry’s appearance on the November 2025 Holy Earth Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNCxXr-LSks Sharon Eubank’s appearance at the 2020 Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship Fall Forum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4WigXyMp5E&t=2705s Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship Annual Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LHhs-YHiQ1VoFCN6BpTVK0NUruN-esCm/view Donate to Latter-Day Saint Earth Stewardship: https://ldsearthstewardship.networkforgood.com/ JustServe Website: https://www.justserve.org/ LDS Earth Stewardship Book Club registration: https://ldsearthstewardship.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/book-club

    Sharon Eubank Wrote a Book on Helping People — Then Admitted She Left Out the Most Important Part

  5. May 26

    Project Hail Mary: If Aliens Exist… Are They God’s Creation Too?

    Evolutionary biologist Dr. Jamie Jensen joins Phil and Lydia for a fun, intriguing, and insightful discussion of evolution and religious faith through themes presented in the Project Hail Mary movie and book. A scientist and a committed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormon), Dr. Jensen draws on her award-winning expertise improving biology teaching through evidence-based instructional practices and overcoming barriers at the intersection of science and religion. Links: Holy Earth Podcast Website: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/holy-earth-podcast/ Holy Earth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holyearthpodcast/ Holy Earth on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@holy.earth.podcast Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/ LDSES “Every Good Tree” writing contest: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rg75r8xAQ4iHXHjPFlGYqBKdUvV5uRrXnuuFGenUFWE/edit?usp=sharing LDSES “Every Good Tree” art exhibit submission info: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SyeKcLcuq5jYcB3wsIzEm5djylw9gJQ7Q38GDPIa9As/edit?usp=sharing Holy Earth Episode 1 with George Handley: https://youtu.be/U5Y07jx6YQ0?si=m7G3elgKsuQCSf92 How Can We Better Care for the Earth? (from churchofjesuschrist.org): https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/serve/caring/stories/how-can-we-better-care-for-the-earth?lang=eng Latter-day Saints and Environment by Elder Patrick Kearon: https://news-middleeast.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/kearon-latter-day-saints-and-environment Jamie Jensen’s BYU faculty profile: https://biology.byu.edu/directory/jamie-jensen Let’s Talk About Faith and Science by Jamie Jensen and Seth Bybee: https://www.deseretbook.com/product/6016966.html?srsltid=AfmBOoq0mMXirxdGe1S_S7Deinu_JTSmiQltQSbO7R5Q2pEyR1-lteVi The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and Evolution from BYU Life Sciences: https://lifesciences.byu.edu/the-restored-gospel-of-jesus-christ-and-evolution Reconciling Evolution website from BYU: https://biology.byu.edu/reconciling-evolution Project Hail Mary movie ‘Sign of the Times’ Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgHq7cZLr_c Holy Earth Episode 17 with Graham Winkle: https://youtu.be/RvKiJkCLfsY?si=TK2elKqbOJA6vEiP

    Project Hail Mary: If Aliens Exist… Are They God’s Creation Too?

  6. May 19

    Stake President Turned TRASH Into Buildings… to Save the Forest - Prosper Mensah

    Prosper Mensah is a Research Scientist at the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, where he studies the technical properties of engineered wood products. He holds a PhD in Wood Science and Technology from the University of Education, Kumasi Campus. He was called as the first president of the Ghana Kumasi Ejisu Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2024. Phil and Lydia discuss Prosper's professional work with sustainable wood composites and how that work intersects with his role as a faith leader and earth steward in central Africa. Links: Holy Earth Podcast Website: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/holy-earth-podcast/ Holy Earth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holyearthpodcast/ Holy Earth on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@holy.earth.podcast Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/ 2026 “Our Trees” art show and writing contest: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/every-good-tree-2026-ldses-fall-forum/ West Africa Latter-day Saints ‘making the world a better place’ in annual service project (Church News): https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2025/09/16/west-africa-all-africa-service-project-2025/ Saints in Togo Consecrate Day to Community Service (Church News): https://news-africa.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saints-in-togo-consecrate-day-to-community-service ERD Afrique on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erd.afrique/ David Attenborough's Planet Earth and when they have the clip of the sea turtles, the baby sea turtles going out to sea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB5p2B3ytHw An Immense World by Ed Yong: https://edyong.me/an-immense-world Dr. Prosper Mensah bio: https://csir-forig.org.gh/prosper-mensah/ Prosper Mensah’s research portfolio: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Prosper-Mensah-2 Church of Jesus Christ Creates New Stake in Kumasi, Ghana (Church News): https://news-africa.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-of-jesus-christ-creates-new-stake-in-kumasi--ghana A well of blessings: Ghanaian village celebrates new borehole donated by the Church (Church News): https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2025/08/07/church-donates-water-borehole-ghana-village-addokrom/ SURPRISE: Most Latter-day Saints missed these General Handbook changes: https://youtu.be/VLRsXXdbU3I?si=rq7BL5nrshmHqFnW Sustainability-focused handbook updates: https://youtu.be/VLRsXXdbU3I?si=VSYcwOxrNEShfMSD

    Stake President Turned TRASH Into Buildings… to Save the Forest - Prosper Mensah

  7. May 6

    WHAT!? Our Heavenly Mother and Trees?

    What do trees have to do with our Mother in Heaven? In this episode, Kathryn Knight Sonntag—mother, landscape architect, and author of The Mother Tree and The Tree at the Center—shares deep and provocative insights about trees, God’s creations, and the divine feminine.

    WHAT!? Our Heavenly Mother and Trees?

  8. May 5 ·  Bonus

    U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) Talking Climate & Faith

    @HolyEarthPodcast streamed this event from Utah Valley University. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) discussed climate change within his Latter-Day Saint faith, with an audience that included both in-person and online participants. Senator Curtis shared some remarks and took questions from the audience. This Holy Earth livestream event was brought to you by LDS Creation Care Community, Utah Clean Energy, and the Utah Valley University Herbert Institute for Public Policy Links: Holy Earth Podcast Website: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/holy-earth-podcast/ Holy Earth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holyearthpodcast/ Holy Earth on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@holy.earth.podcast @HolyEarthPodcast is live-streaming from this event from Utah Valley University. U.S. Senator John Curtis will discuss climate change with an audience that includes both in-person and online participants. Senator Curtis will share some remarks and will take questions from the audience. Subscribe to the Holy Earth Podcast on the following platforms YouTube: / @holyearthpodcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7lJfjDP… Instagram: / holyearthpodcast TikTok: / holy.earth.podcast Thanks to our Event Sponsors!: LDS Creation Care Community: https://www.ldscreationcare.org/ LDS Creation Care Community Members include: Brigham Young University Office of Sustainability: https://sustainability.byu.edu/ Holy Earth Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5_yOBsT4f7nfCMP1bCWyQg Latter-Day Saint Earth Stewardship: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/ LDS Action Team Citizens Climate Lobby: https://www.ldscreationcare.org/blog/… Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance: https://www.mormonstewards.net/

    U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) Talking Climate & Faith
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4.7
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Welcome to Holy Earth, a podcast dedicated to the intersection of faith and sustainability in the Latter-day Saint tradition, with hosts Phil Fernberg PhD and Lydia Theobald. Holy Earth is brought to you by LDS Earth Stewardship, with the support of a generous donation from The Nature Conservancy.

Information

  • Creator
    Lydia Theobald and Dr. Phil Fernberg
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Show Website
    Holy Earth

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