Holy Earth

Lydia Theobald and Dr. Phil Fernberg
  • 4.6 (11)
  • 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. Stake President Turned TRASH Into Buildings… to Save the Forest - Prosper Mensah

    1D AGO

    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

    53 min
  2. WHAT!? Our Heavenly Mother and Trees?

    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.

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

    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/

    53 min
  4. Gardening Scotland with King Charles, and other stories - Graham Winkle

    APR 28

    Gardening Scotland with King Charles, and other stories - Graham Winkle

    After the stress of corporate life in England brought him to the point of mental exhaustion, Graham Winkle uprooted his life and moved with his family to a small farm, or croft, in the far north of Scotland bordering the North Sea. In this interview, Graham talks about life on the croft, his family’s food forest, care for the Earth, spiritual connection with nature, and the time he worked as a gardener for King Charles. 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/ March 2026 earth stewardship updates to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints General Handbook: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/general-handbook-march-2026 20.2.4 Activities: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/20-activities?lang=eng#title_number7 35.4.4 Energy and Water Conservation: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/35?lang=eng#title_number27 38.8.6 Caring for the Earth: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/38-church-policies-and-guidelines?lang=eng Graham Winkle’s YouTube channel, “Solar Winds Creative & The Far North Forest Garden”: https://www.youtube.com/@Solarwindscreative LDSES UK Chapter on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/743045053790715/ LDSES Mid-Atlantic Chapter: https://eartheast.org/

    56 min
  5. Talking Faith and Climate: A Holy Earth Live panel featuring the Creation Care Coalition

    APR 14

    Talking Faith and Climate: A Holy Earth Live panel featuring the Creation Care Coalition

    Description: Phil and Lydia discuss climate change in the Latter-day Saint community with Abigail MacKay, Thomas Cain, Elizabeth Currit Thompson, who are representing Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance, Citizens Climate Lobby, and Mormon Women For Ethical Government. Links: Donate to the LDSES spring fundraiser: https://ldsearthstewardship.networkforgood.com Holy Earth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HolyEarthPodcast Holy Earth on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/holy-earth/id1837761821 Holy Earth on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7lJfjDPJXGTKcL1mCCQfgw?si=b55a6131146f479e Holy Earth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holyearthpodcast/ Holy Earth on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@holy.earth.podcast Holy Earth Podcast Website: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/holy-earth-podcast/ Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/ Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance: https://www.mormonstewards.net/ LDS Creation Care Community: https://www.ldscreationcare.org/ Citizen’s Climate Lobby LDS Action Team: https://community.citizensclimate.org/groups/home/954 Mormon Women for Ethical Government: https://www.mormonwomenforethicalgovernment.org/ Holy Earth podcast episodes focusing on Climate Change Madeleine H. Hahne. Climate change and conservative political organizations, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukfMoySX6As&t=284s Katharine Heyhoe. Climate Talk and Faith. 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJbJLccZUf0&t=3085s Elder Steven E. Snow. Tough Questions on Earth Stewardship & Church History. 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGuHZh-ZCDg Climate change and LDS Earth Stewardship in Africa, Mexico, Peru, and Norway, 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkuQ3aTK4vE&t=821s “Factors Influencing Climate Change Beliefs among American Latter-Day Saints” by Madeleine H. Hahne: https://brill.com/view/journals/wo/29/1/article-p19_2.xml?srsltid=AfmBOop2Zyw_NnDT0GhHXkMYba0BY870Wn0vItgYlKKK5O3DAvA2att0https://ldsearthstewardship.networkforgood.com/ Earth Month LDS Earth Stewardship Service Projects Salt Lake City April, 18: https://www.justserve.org/projects/d1f8a029-1cb9-4a64-9664-3c8f6d27bed9/earth-day-service-project:-tree-planting?shiftId=d21bd31d-0181-45a9-be6e-b15ff730442c&cid=projectsearch1 Davis County, Utah, April 14: https://ldsesnorthernwasatch.substack.com/p/upcoming-events Utah County, April 16-19: contact UtahValley@LDSearthstewardship.org for details St. George, Utah: Saturday, April 18 at 9 AM: Virgin River Cleanup. Contact st.george@ldsearthstewardship.org for more details. Research - “Factors Influencing Climate Change Beliefs among American Latter-Day Saints” by Madeleine H. Hahne: https://brill.com/view/journals/wo/29/1/article-p19_2.xml?srsltid=AfmBOop2Zyw_NnDT0GhHXkMYba0BY870Wn0vItgYlKKK5O3DAvA2att0https://ldsearthstewardship.networkforgood.com/ Pew Research: Decline of Christianity in the U.S. Has Slowed, May Have Leveled Off Findings from the 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study. Includes sentiment on climate change. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/decline-of-christianity-in-the-us-has-slowed-may-have-leveled-off/?org=982&lvl=100&ite=15594&lea=4189604&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a0DQm000004XaKAMA0https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2025/03/05/lds-attitudes-toward-abortion/ PPRI: The Faith Factor in Climate Change: How Religion Impacts American Attitudes on Climate and Environmental Policy, 2023, https://prri.org/research/the-faith-factor-in-climate-change-how-religion-impacts-american-attitudes-on-climate-and-environmental-policy/ State of Utah Study for the 2026 legislative session showing the effect of carbon emissions and temperature rise on the great Salt Lake water crisis, Figure 18, Page 27. https://d36oiwf74r1rap.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GSL-Summary-Mar2026.pdf Church Apostles addressing “global warming” or “climate change”: President Dallin H Oaks, addresses “global warming” at BYU-Hawaii, 2018: https://

    56 min
  6. The Spiritual Wisdom of Trees with Nalini Nadkarni

    MAR 24

    The Spiritual Wisdom of Trees with Nalini Nadkarni

    Nalini Nadkarni—a tree canopy ecologist, National Geographic Explorer, and community bridge-builder—talks about trees as a timeless symbol of spiritual wisdom and human connection. Links: Dr. Samuel Hirt of Southern Virginia University: https://svu.edu/bios/samuel-hirt/ The Our Trees initiative with National Geographic and Nalini Nadkarni: https://www.our-trees.com/ TreeNote podcast with Nalini Nadkarni from KUER: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1147107660/tree-note Nalini Nadkarni’s website: https://www.nalininadkarni.com/ Nalini Nadkarni on science and religion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz-VvBpqoa4&list=PLh5LWt-Zwl6ltP7qWS5GM-iaveB2iSt1v&index=1&t=2s Biology professor meets with Archbishop of Canterbury: https://attheu.utah.edu/announcements/biology-professor-meets-with-archbishop-of-canterbury/ “Trees and the Love of God” by David M. Belknap and Nalini M. Nakarni in The Interpreter: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/64f75e517b740a22ea513528/t/65f071f6a33d722b391ba7ef/1710256633800/LDS+and+trees.pdf Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship website and newsletter: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/ 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

    1h 15m
  7. Talking Climate Around the World

    MAR 10

    Talking Climate Around the World

    Three global panelists talk about the local effects of climate change in Africa, Europe, South America, and North America. Climate change affects health, food, and infrastructure for ordinary people worldwide. Our faith calls us to take action and raise our voices to help heal the Earth as we face this climate emergency. Links: “Sustainable Solutions: Clean Water and Gardens Transform a Community in Mexico” (Church Newsroom): https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/sustainable-solutions-clean-water-and-gardens-transform-a-community-in-mexico YTalk Climate Conversations: https://sustainability.byu.edu/climate-conversations 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

    1h 8m
  8. Cleaning Up Ocean Plastic with Jeremy Porter

    FEB 23

    Cleaning Up Ocean Plastic with Jeremy Porter

    Entrepreneur and problem-solver Jeremy Porter talks about his nonprofit Tidey Ocean, which works on cleaning up ocean plastic while sustaining communities. Holy Earth is brought to you by LDS Earth Stewardship, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, with the support of a generous donation from The Nature Conservancy. Show notes: “Who’s Most at Risk When the World is Unwell?” by Christine Hill: https://ldsearthstewardship.org/whos-most-at-risk-when-the-world-is-unwell/ “Women ‘Can and Should Change the World,’ Says Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson” (Church newsroom): https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/women-can-should-change-the-world-relief-society-general-president-camille-n-johnson Tidey Ocean website: https://www.tideyocean.org/ @TideyOcean on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tideyocean/ “Stopping Ocean Plastic While Helping People Out of Poverty” (Jeremy Porter “In the Company of Stewards” conversation): https://youtu.be/J7s2dJPrB7g?si=2Y9zU4gAP-ymBopM Sharon Eubank Holy Earth Episode, December 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lCBdH3YMLI&t=1894s “The Church of Jesus Christ Launches Global Effort to Nourish Children and Mothers” (Church newsroom): https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/the-church-of-jesus-christ-launches-global-effort-to-nourish-children-and-mothers-relief-society?imageView=17100615098736757790https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/the-church-of-jesus-christ-launches-global-effort-to-nourish-children-and-mothers-relief-society?imageView=17100615098736757790 “25 Ways to Participate in the Global Initiative to Improve the Well-Being of Women and Children”: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/serve/caring/stories/25-ways-to-participate-women-children?lang=eng 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

    44 min
See All (21)

4.6
out of 5
11 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
    21
  • Show Website
    Holy Earth

You Might Also Like