WARD RADIO

Cardon, Brittany and Tikla dive into the conversation around the controversial topic of childhood baptism in the LDS Church, specifically focusing on whether baptizing children at eight is developmentally appropriate or a form of indoctrination. Cardon Ellis opens the discussion by referencing recent criticisms from ex-Mormon therapists who claim that an eight-year-old is too young to make such a...

Cardon and Joseph, who kicks off a free LDS Truth Claims series, drawing inspiration from Brett McDonald's lectures. The conversation starts playfully, referencing "Breaking Bad" to set the scene for offering a "taste" of the upcoming series. Cardon Ellis takes the role of an everyman learner, while Joseph leads with explanation and analysis.

Cardon Ellis, Jonah Barnes, and Ryland dive into some startling social science data about American clergy specifically, how many pastors actually believe the most fundamental tenets of Christianity. Jonah Barnes sharing graphs from researcher Ryan Burge (graphsaboutreligion.com) about various religious leaders’ beliefs. The hosts unpack the survey data, which explores questions like clergy’s certa...

Emily susan Pack is LIVE in the Ward Radio Studio talking about all the fun in and outs of LDS musical comedy! We'll get some music too!

Cardon Ellis and Cade Alvey welcome their guest Emerson, an atheist philosopher who runs the Walden Pod, to discuss and respond to anti-Mormon rhetoric, specifically addressing viral content created by evangelical Christian Rob Corson.

Cardon Ellis and Michael Mairano explore why athletes from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are often overrepresented in high-level sports. Drawing from Michael’s experience as a former D1 athlete at Brigham Young University and Utah State University, the discussion looks at how discipline, faith, and strong community culture may create an environment where athletes thrive. They als...

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...