WARD RADIO

Cardon Ellis and Michael take a deep dive into the often misunderstood place of the early Christian creeds especially the Nicene Creed within Mormon thought and broader Christianity. The conversation begins with Michael making it clear that "the Creeds were not an abomination," immediately challenging a common LDS perspective. Cardon Ellis admits to expecting this take and brings up the...

This episode of WARD RADIO dives deep into the remarkable growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) across South Africa and the broader Africa South region. Cardon Ellis alongside guest Austin Falter, discuss staggering statistics that highlight both rapid expansion and genuine engagement among new members.

Cardon Ellis, Jonah Barnes, and Ryland dive deep into the tension between intellectualism and faith within the context of Latter-day Saint (LDS) culture. The conversation kicks off with the provocative premise that "intellectualism is the new false god," questioning why so many intellectuals are moving away from the Church.

Did you know some argue that Latter-day Saints essentially believe in the Immaculate Conception? In this episode of Ward Radio, Cardon and Michael dive into a lively theological discussion connecting Catholic doctrine, Mormon theology, and the legacy of Vatican II.

This episode dives into the pressing issue of “dead” Elders Quorums men’s groups within the Latter-day Saint church that have lost their sense of purpose, connection, and vitality. Cardon Ellis opens by highlighting the widespread disengagement and struggles men face in these quorums, including isolation, higher risks for suicide and other life challenges, especially in Utah. The conversation aims...

In this lively and thoughtful episode of Ward Radio, host Cardon Ellis is joined by guest Austin Falter (of Falter Media) and podcaster/author Jonah Barnes for an in-depth discussion about the frequently quoted biblical verse, Galatians 1:8, especially in the context of debates surrounding Mormonism.

Cardon Ellis sits down with Michael—a former Anglican from a family of priests and a successful steeplechase athlete—alongside Baylor, to explore Michael’s remarkable spiritual journey from sincere skeptic to dedicated convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The episode opens with light banter, friendly jokes, and an introduction to Michael’s background. We quickly learn that M...

Cardon Ellis (the host) and Jonah Barnes (an associate professor and expert in apocryphal studies) dive into a fascinating literary discovery from the Book of Mormon—what Jonah Barnes describes as a "double chiasm" or concentric chiasms in Alma chapter 24, specifically in the speech of King Anti-Nephi-Lehi. The duo starts on a light note, joking about seeing chiasms everywhere (even in s...

Cardon Ellis and Dalton Williams dive into a practical and lively tutorial on leveraging Scripture Notes a powerful scripture study tool especially for crafting talks, lessons, or deep personal study. The conversation is energetic and fun, with both speakers frequently riffing off each other’s questions and observations.

Cardon Ellis is joined by Dalton Williams of Unashamed Truth, a former MMA fighter and firefighter for a deep, thoughtful conversation about the differences between peacemaking and peacekeeping, especially through the lens of faith, scripture, and real-world experience.

Cardon is joined by Adam and Madeline Packer for a candid conversation exploring how Adam used an Excel spreadsheet as part of his decision-making process when choosing his wife. The story launches with some classic Ward Radio banter and playful jokes, but quickly turns to Adam’s unique approach to relationships. While taking an advanced Excel modeling class for his finance degree, Adam realized h...

This viral skit from Austin (Small and Simple Screens) exploded with nearly 5,000 shares because apparently… we’ve ALL had this dream. In this episode, Cardon Ellis and Austin react to:• The collective “mission recall” nightmare• The BYU transcript anxiety dream• COVID missionaries still dreaming they have to go back• The psycholog y of finishing something… and being forced to restart• The funnies...

Cardon Ellis is joined by Dalton Williams (of Unashamed Truth) and Brittany the Shadow to tackle a common but often misapplied critique against members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS): the use of Galatians 1:8 by Christian apologists as a supposed “kill shot” argument. The conversation centers around clarifying the context of this scripture and dispelling myths about LDS t...

In this lively and engaging episode of Ward Radio, Cardon Ellis is joined by a diverse cast: David Boyce from “52 Churches in 52 Weeks,” Bart Markois from A Minute With Bart and his lovely daughter Emma Markois

This episode explores the unique world of Latter-day Saint (LDS) matchmaking with special guest Nicole Miller, founder of UTMatch (not Utah Match, as clarified!). Cardon Ellis hosts the conversation alongside David Boyce, and together they dive deep into the experiences, challenges, and contemporary landscape of LDS dating and matchmaker services. Nicole introduces UTMatch as a service specializin...

This episode is an in-depth, lively, and, at times, humorous debrief of the recent debate between Joe Heschmeyer (representing Catholicism) and Jacob Hansen (representing LDS/Mormon perspectives), with moderation and additional discussion by Cardon Ellis, Jonah Barnes, and contributions from others. The debate centered on the concept of the "Great Apostasy"—whether or not there was a loss of a con...

This lively episode of WARD RADIO brings together hosts Cardon Ellis with guests Cade and Dalton Williams (who introduces MMA fighter Kwai Thompson—aka "the Throwin' Samoan"). They dive into an unexpected yet insightful discussion about how serving as missionaries in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints equips young men and women with the resilience, humility, and toughnes...

Cardon Ellis, Hayden Holm, and Tanner dive deep into the kind of comedy and cultural expectations that surround men in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), and why so many young men (and elders) feel alienated, bored, or misunderstood. The episode kicks off with Hayden Holm sharing a “cringe” church-adjacent comedy video (“Laughing All the Way”), which they all agree is emblemati...

In this episode, Cardon Ellis hosts Hayden Holm in a lively and insightful discussion about the 1991 movie “Hook,” starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman. The central theme of the conversation is how “Hook” contains powerful, “hidden lessons” for fathers—especially within the context of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but also relevant to any father or leader of young men. Hay...

This episode dives deep into what Bart Marcos describes as a “crisis of missing Moroni” within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints—a metaphor for the declining willingness among members to stand up and actively defend personal liberty, faith, and foundational values. Drawing inspiration from Captain Moroni, a Book of Mormon figure renowned for his courageous leadership and resolve, Bar...

Cardon Ellis, Hayden Holm, and Tanner dive into the complex topic of how church culture’s “nice guy” approach is inadvertently driving men—especially young men—away from feeling connected and invigorated in their faith communities. The conversation is sparked by a church-adjacent comedy clip, which the hosts quickly describe as “cringe,” “safe,” and lacking any risk or genuine unpredictability—the...

Christian and Travis, from the "Holy Rebellion" Instagram page confront Cardon Ellis, host of Ward Radio, on "internet peacemaking" and how it relates to 2026 apologetics. This was a great conversation.... we hope you enjoy it!

Cardon Ellis sits down with Judge Vaughn R. Walker, widely known within certain circles as one of the architects behind the grassroots strategy for California’s Proposition 8. The episode isn’t just a recounting of tactical moves—it’s a deeply human journey through the behind-the-scenes choices, personal sacrifices, and enormous social repercussions tied to one of the most significant and controve...

Comedians Gwyneth White (Gwowls) and Sage Adams (Return With Sage) stop by the Ward Radio Studio to talk about their recent uploads using satire to share and defend the gospel... and guess what?... It actually WORKS.

This episode is a nostalgic, lighthearted, and engaging dive into the world of vintage Mormon culture through the lens of an unexpected eBay find—15 issues from the 1979-1980 “California Intermountain News,” a little-known Mormon newspaper from California. Cardon Ellis, joined by Hayden Holm, unboxes the newspapers and reacts in real time, giving listeners a candid look at the quirky, homespun asp...