Ever Onward

What makes missionary service truly life-changing? In this episode of Ever Onward, Katie Ball sits down with Brad Johnson, former mission president of the Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission, to discuss the profound lessons of missionary work—from the struggles of homesickness to the miracles of transformation. Brad shares how his own mission in France & Switzerland shaped his life, the reality of...

What makes missionary service truly life-changing? In this episode of Ever Onward, Katie Ball sits down with Brad Johnson, former mission president of the Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission, to discuss the profound lessons of missionary work—from the struggles of homesickness to the miracles of transformation. Brad shares how his own mission in France & Switzerland shaped his life, the reality of...

Ever wondered what it’s like to lead a mission during a global pandemic? In this episode of Ever Onward, Katie Ball sits down with Brett and Amy Horsley, former mission leaders in Brazil, to talk about the unique highs, unprecedented struggles, and powerful lessons of guiding missionaries through extraordinary times. The Horsley's share their journey—from their initial call to serve, to naviga...

Ever wondered what it’s like to lead a mission during a global pandemic? In this episode of Ever Onward, Katie Ball sits down with Brett and Amy Horsley, former mission leaders in Brazil, to talk about the unique highs, unprecedented struggles, and powerful lessons of guiding missionaries through extraordinary times. The Horsley's share their journey—from their initial call to serve, to naviga...

In this episode of Ever Onward, Katie Ball sits down with Marla Gale, Co-Founder of Gather Gems jewelry, to explore the beautiful intersection of missionary work, motherhood, and the gathering of Israel. Maria, a mother of five, shares her journey of finding her own unique missionary path despite not serving a traditional mission. She explains how the spirit of missionary work can thrive in any se...

Ever wondered what it’s really like to come home from a mission? In this episode of Ever Onward, Katie Ball sits down with Duncan Viehweg, a recently returned missionary, to talk about the highs, the struggles, and the unexpected lessons of mission life. Duncan shares his journey—from childhood dreams of serving a mission to overcoming unexpected obstacles just to get out into the field. He opens...

Ready for a story that'll make you smile? On this episode of Ever Onward , Katie Ball chats with Elder Logan Castleton – you might know him better as the Rapping Missionary . They dive deep into Logan's fascinating path, where a heart condition turned his traditional mission plans upside down and led him to something unexpected: a service mission! What happens when life throws you a curveb...

In this episode of Ever Onward, Katie Ball welcomes back Jared Halverson, a BYU professor and host of the Unshaken Saints podcast. This time, they dive into the unique challenges returned missionaries face. Jared offers practical advice on balancing spiritual growth with new responsibilities like school, work, and relationships. They explore how to carry the lessons and habits from the mission int...

In this episode of Ever Onward, Katie Ball sits down with Jared Halverson, a BYU professor of Ancient Scripture and creator of the popular podcast Unshaken Saints. Jared shares his powerful journey from receiving his mission call to Puerto Rico to becoming a gospel teacher. He opens up about the struggles and triumphs of missionary life, the critical role of faith in facing hard things, and the le...

In this episode of Ever Onward, host Katie Ball sits down with Caitlyn Ludlow to discuss her journey as a missionary. Caitlyn shares her experiences of deciding to serve, facing mental health challenges in the field, and ultimately returning home early. Together, they explore the stigma surrounding early returns, the emotional struggles that come with it, and the unexpected blessings Caitlyn disco...

In this episode of Ever Onward, host Katie Ball interviews Ryan Marks, a football player at Utah State University, who shares his inspiring journey of balancing athletics with his faith. Ryan opens up about the difficult choices he faced between pursuing a college football career and serving a mission, the challenges he encountered during his mission, and the unexpected turns that ultimately broug...

In this episode of Ever Onward, host Katie Ball continues the conversation with Elder and Sister Clawson, service mission leaders in the Ogden, Utah mission. They dive deeper into the unique role of service missionaries, addressing common myths and highlighting the evolving opportunities available. The Clawsons share inspiring stories about the impact of service missions, the collaboration between...

In this episode of  Ever Onward , host Katie Ball interviews Elder and Sister Clawson, service mission leaders for the Ogden, Utah mission. They discuss the integration of service missions with proselyting missions, how the process has evolved, and the unique opportunities service missionaries now have. The Clawsons also share insights into the various service assignments available, how missionari...

In this episode of Ever Onward, hosts Katie Ball and Maria Hunsaker, both therapists at the Missionary Wellness Center, share their personal experiences and strategies for coping with the emotional challenges of sending out missionaries. They open up about the struggles of saying goodbye, managing anxiety, and trusting their children to navigate the difficulties of missionary life. Katie and Maria...

In this episode of Ever Onward, professional religious educator Eric Stauffer and licensed therapist Katie Ball discuss the challenges of perfectionism, a common struggle many missionaries face as they strive to meet high expectations. You'll learn how the pressure to be perfect can intensify during a mission and how it can lead to discouragement or mental health challenges if not properly add...

Ever Onward is a podcast where professional religious educator Eric Stauffer and licensed therapist Katie Ball discuss topics to support missionaries' mental health journey while staying rooted in the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This week, they dive into the complex topic of anxiety, a feeling that many missionaries face during their service. Eric and Katie exp...

Ever Onward is a podcast where professional religious educator Eric Stauffer and licensed therapist Katie Ball discuss topics to support missionaries' mental health journey while staying rooted in the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This week, they tackle the challenging topic of facing rejection, a common experience for missionaries. Eric and Katie share insights...

Ever Onward is a podcast where professional religious educator Eric Stauffer and licensed therapist Katie Ball discuss topics to support missionaries mental health journey while staying rooted in the correct doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This week, they tackle the topic of companionships and the conflicts that can arise when missionaries are paired together. Eric and...

ver Onward is a podcast hosted by a licensed clinical therapist and a professional religious educator dedicated to supporting an individual's mental health journey while staying rooted in the correct doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that integrate the teachings of Jesus Christ with evidence-based mental health practices. Whether th...