Listen, Learn & Love Hosted By Richard Ostler

My friend Shawn Moon (noted writer, business leader and community member) joins us to talk about his new book called Learning Leadership From the Scriptures: 12 Practices for Building Leadership Effectiveness Based on Timeless and Eternal Principles. The book is available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Leadership-Scriptures-Effectiveness-Principles/dp/1462142931/ Shawn talks about how to apply principles of leadership in our personal life (chapters 5-8); in our family (chapters 9-12) and in our calling (chapters 13-16). Shawn also talks about how Jesus is the perfect leader. I encourage everyone to listen to this podcast and read his book. It will give you new insights into gospel principles to help you in your life and in your circle of influence.

My high school friend Mark “Mini” Morgan joins us to talk about his journey into and then out of addiction. Mark bravely shared his story in this June 8, 2022, Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/mark.morgan.5439/posts/pfbid02ToW5aoKvuKzohpyCMd2CJqhgd3jXWGGu11AmEGWFVJigTxmocEGLueZByd6FjjHil In this post Mark writes: “21 years ago, today my life was at rock bottom. Arrested for a second time with a whopping .62 cents to my name and homeless. Estrangement and despair come to mind. Divorce, heartbreak, disappointments, and darkness all seemed relevant back then. Today, I am a person in long term recovery.” Mark is now in a good place and works Valley Behavior Health as a licensed substance use disorder counselor. In his work, Mark is able to help others to recovery. If you are working to address and solve addiction, Mark’s story will help you. And if you are working to help others, perhaps Mark’s insights will be helpful. Thank you Mark for being on the podcast. You have my continued love,

My friend Jody England Hansen (married mother of three, active Latter-day Saint) shares her story growing up in family that valued critical thinking, activism, looking out for the most marginalized and moving forward with the complexities/beauties of being a Latter-day Saints. Jody also shares insights about her father, Eugene England, who was one of the most influential Latter-day Saints in our lifetime. Two biographies about Eugene England were published in 2021: Eugene England: A Mormon Liberal by Kristine Haglund: https://www.amazon.com/Eugene-England-Liberal-Introductions-Thought/dp/0252086007 Stretching the Heavens: The Life of Eugene England and the Crisis of Modern Mormonism by Terryl Givens: https://www.amazon.com/Stretching-Heavens-Eugene-England-Mormonism/dp/B09NMQ43M3/ You can read more about Eugene England and his work at https://www.eugeneengland.org/ If you are looking for tools to move forward as a Latter-day Saint with the dissonance/paradox that can be part of your journey, ple

My friends Tyler Lefevor, Cynthia and Paul Winward join us to share about and invite listeners to the church leader sessions at Affirmation’s International Conference (attend in-person or virtual). If you register, you view and discuss the church leader sessions later as each session is recorded. Here are links mentioned in the podcast: Affirmation conference overview: https://affirmation.org/events/55412/ Affirmation signup (free for church leaders): https://affirmation.org/event-registration/?eventid=55412 Tyler Lefevor church leader survey: https://usu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ZhMEAFxcoHFvrE At Last She Said It Podcast: https://atlastshesaidit.org/ Thank you, Tyler, Cynthia, Paul and all involved in Affirmation to better support LGBTQ Latter-day Saints.

My friend David joins us to share his journey as a life-long Democrat. David isn’t on the podcast to recruit for new Democrats, but rather to help create space in our congregations for different political perspectives to be welcomed and valued. David, who has been on this road his whole life, has the long view for younger liberal Latter-day Saints looking for voices and their needed perspectives. David shares his own journey (including a commitment to civil rights for over 35 years and putting politics aside during his church service) and suggestions for younger Latter-day Saints in their sometimes-difficult journey about where we are as a Church on issues close to their hearts. If you are a politically liberal Latter-day Saint, David’s podcast will help you. If you are not a liberal Latter-day Saint, perhaps David’s podcast will also help you and give you added tools and insights to help create Zion—where we bring our differences together so our “hearts are knit together as one.” Thank you, Davi

My friend David Butler joins us to talk about the beautiful doctrine of our restored Church and how it applied to our lives. David also shares a gospel principles framework to manage the complexities of life’s questions. David also shares how our Heavenly Father will always be there to help and support us and the role of Jesus in our lives. If you are looking for a steady gospel voice to give you hope, perspective and more tools to make you way forward as a Latter-day Saint please listen to this episode. And if you want more tools to help others, David’s insights will help you. And please check out David Butler and Emily Belle Freeman’s Come Follow Me YouTube/Podcast called “Don’t Miss This” at dontmissthisstudy.com. And please follow David on Instagram @mrdavebutter for inspirational and hopeful messages. Thank you, Dave, for your needed and wonderful work in our Latter-day Saint community. You are blessing many lives!

My friend Preston Jenkins (who was on Episode 237) joins us to talk about his new book, “This Boy and His Mother: Healing from Trauma as a Gay Latter-day Saint.” The book talks about how Preston found hope and healing through Christ after sexual and emotional abuse during his mission. The abuse resulted in PTSD and would be triggered by things related to The Church (such as reading scriptures). Preston talks about how he and his mother addressed, worked through, and solved this trauma with guiding help from the Godhead. If you have experienced church-generated pain and/or trauma, this book and podcast will help you. For Preston, this isn’t theoretical, but a real-life application of the doctrine of Christ and therapy to heal. Preston has a powerful understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to heal our hearts and souls and his story will help you. Preston is joined on the podcast with his new bride, Taryn (married January 2022). They talk about their beautiful and authentic love story, being open and ho

My friend Noah Walker (age 20, active LDS, college student) shares his story with OCD with a focus on some of the “taboo” subsets including harm OCD and pedophilic OCD. Noah talks about egosyntonic (line up with values) and egodystonic (don’t line up with values)—a critical difference in understanding these subsets. Noah also talks about this path to hope and healing—and how he pulled out of feeling suicidal. Noah also talks about Alma’s seed experiment and how this applies to his journey. Noah concludes with seeing God’s hand in the whole process. If you are working to understand and solve OCD, Noah’s podcast will help you. If you want better tools to help others, Noah’s story and insight will help you. Thank you, Noah, for sharing your story. It will help so many. You are a good man. You can find Noah on Instagram @noahwalker0315 ** Please Check Out My New Book (Listen, Learn and Love: Improving Latter-day Saint Culture; link below) which has a chapter on this subject ** Deseret Book:

My friend Dr. Matthew Wickman (BYU Professor of English and Founding Director, Emeritus, of the BYU Humanities Center) joins us to talk about his new book called “Life to the Whole Being, The Spiritual Memoir of a Literature Professor”. The great book (published by the BYU Maxwell Institute) is available at: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Whole-Being-Spiritual-Literature/dp/0842500618/ In the podcast, Dr. Wickman tells us why he wrote the book, who is hopes will read it and how he hopes it will help readers. If you are in a faith crisis, wondering where God is in the complexities of mortality, want to develop more faith and/or want better tools to help others, this book/podcast will help you. If you have loved ones no longer in the Church, this podcast will help you feel more peace. I was deeply moved during the podcast with Dr. Wickman’s wonderful insights and soft heart. I feel more peace and have more hope. Thank you, Matt, for being on the podcast and your great and needed work in our faith c

My friend Renee Davis (married mother of two, CPA, lives in Knoxville TN) joins us to share her story. Renee starts with her remarkable conversation story into the Church about 30 years ago—with many people in her life against her decision. Renee also talks about her Patriarchal blessing helping her to better understand her future. Renee shares being kind and supportive to gay people in her life and their impact for good in society and in her life. At the end of the podcast, she shares a deeply moving song her friend Levi wrote called “Stained Glass Window”. Renee has felt like a “fringe member” and is also someone who at times is a “foyer sitter”. But as we listen to Renee’s story, I believe we are hearing from someone deeply committed to the Gospel and being like Jesus. If you feel like a “fringe member” who may not belong at Church, please listen to Renee’s story. It will help you. And if you want to do a better job of helping everyone feel welcome, needed, and have a sense of belonging

My friend Gene Grant (late 60s, served two missions, married father of four, former Mayor, Attorney ) shares his sometimes-painful journey as a liberal Latter-day Saint. Gene has the long view of being on this road and has seen a lot of positive change and improvements. He has also had some very difficult experiences—including the threat (after his second mission) of having his temple privileges removed. If you are a liberal Latter-day Saint looking for tools, perspectives, and reasons to stay in the Church—this podcast will help you. And if you are a conservative leader/member looking to build Zion where we are stronger using our diversity to bless and lift others, this podcast will help you. This is not a podcast to change your political views—rather Gene sharing his 5 decades of experience to help us better love, see and support each other as Latter-day Saints working to Gather Israel and build Zion. Thank you, Gene, for being on the podcast. Your story personally blessed and help me and wi

My friend Scott Baldwin (BYU Professor, Clinical Psychology, Married Father of 5) shares the experience of his mission in 1997 ending after 8 days. Scott talks about the shame and sadness he felt leaving the MTC and not completing a mission. Now 25 years from that experience, Scott shares insights, principles, and perspectives to help other early-release missionaries feel hope in the moment and for their future. Scott’s wife Autumn joins us to share why she married Scott and loves this part of his journey because of the his gifts and Christlike attributes to help others. If you are an early-release missionary, this podcast will help you as Scott has the long-view of this road. And if you are a local leader, parent or friend, please listen to this podcast to help the current (or future) early-release missionaries in your circle. Thank you, Scott, for sharing your story—along with your academic and clinical insights into this space. Combining all those perspectives helps us better support early-release

My friend Deeanna (divorced, mother of 4, active LDS) joins us to share growing up in a rural community in the 1990s with her dear best friend/boyfriend Ryan. It is a beautiful high school romance—but one that Ryan seemed to know wouldn’t work long-term and Deeanna came to understand and accept. Deeanna talks about Ryan’s support during High School and her mission—but how they started to separate when Ryan stepped away from the Church. Deeanna talks about learning Ryan was gay and how their relationship stayed strong as they got on with their respective lives. It is a beautiful love story—one that is very different than Deeanna envisioned in High School. Deeanna shares her Facebook post when she learned that Ryan died. The podcast concludes with Deeanna’s talk at Ryan's graveside service. Thank you, Deeanna, for being on the podcast. Your story honors Ryan and helps bring us together as the same human family. ** Please Check Out My LGBTQ Book At: ** Deseret Book: www.deseretbook.com/p/listen-learn-and-love

My friend Justin Traasdahl (Ukraine RM, BYU Grad) joins us to bravely share his story. Justin starts with opening up at age 13 to his parents about possibly being gay which led to a long and painful road with conversion therapy that lasted around 15 years. Justin’s hope in sharing his story helps “change hearts and trajectories”. Around age 29, Justin went to a new LDS therapist who told him “Justin, you know reparative therapy doesn’t work, right?” Justin shares questioning conversion therapy along the way —that this is who he is—but needed to hear this from a different therapist. Justin shares the pain, trauma and betrayal of conversion/reparative therapy and his road to healing and hope. It is a remarkable story of courage. One of the reasons Justin agreed to do this podcast is to help younger queer youth and parents avoid this type of therapy which is still legal in some states. Justin, who is no longer an active Latter-day Saint, talks about his hope for the future that includes sharing

My friend Kathryn Sonntag joins us to talk about her new book called “The Mother Tree: Discovering the Love and Wisdom of Our Divine Mother” (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XG49WH8/) published by our friends at https://faithmatters.org/. Kathryn (active LDS, mother of two, MLA in landscape architecture and environmental planning) shares her spiritual insights about “The Mother Tree” and the hope, perspective and meaning this brings into her life. I was deeply moved listening to and learning from Kathryn. Her voice and insights are so needing in our community to better create Zion which includes Mother Earth and the Divine Mother. I encourage everyone to listen to this podcast and read Kathryn’s book. Thank you, Kathryn, for being on the podcast. I hope we continue to hear your insights and perspectives—you are a wonderful gift to our faith community to bring more hope, understanding and healing. You can read more about Kathryn at https://www.kathrynknightsonntag.com/

My friend Heidi Bartle (Active LDS, Mother of 5, BYU Grad) shares her story of waves of unexplained sadness which led to a diagnosis of depression and a further diagnosis in 2012 of bipolar. With the encouragement of a therapist, Heidi opened up to her children (ages 5 – 15 at the time) about her mental illness. That helped reduce the shame and sigma and normalized having a mental illness (just like having an allergy or asthma). That led to Heidi to write a groundbreaking children’s book called “When Mommy Feels Sad: A Mother’s Journey Through Depression” which is at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/When-Mommy-Feels-Sad-Depression/dp/1638859787 If you are a parent with a mental illness, Heidi’s book and this podcast will help you. If you have someone in your life with a mental illness, Heidi’s insights will help you. There are so many wonderful segments in the podcast including the ending about deliverance being both a process along the way and a final event. You are one of my new heroes Heid

My friend Joe Horton shares the story of falling in love in 1978 with his wife Ann concurrent with her MS diagnosis. Joe talks about healing blessings, advice to not marry someone with MS, and his personal revelation to marry Ann. It is a beautiful and deeply moving love story. Joe (who was President/CEO of Primary Children’s Hospital from 1994-2007 and currently is Professor in the MHA Program at the David Eccles School of Business) talks about the deep rewards and challenges of the road they jointly walked together. That road included having two children (Matt and Drew), Ann eventually needing a wheelchair, managing providing care, Ann blessing so many, and Ann’s passing on April 15, 2021. You can read Ann’s obituary here: https://www.larkinmortuary.com/obituary/view/margaret-ann-horton-13 Joe’s life is very different than he imagined on the flight home from Rome Italy in 1975 after a successful LDS mission. However, Joe shares how he wouldn’t trade this life for the life he once imagined.

My friend Allison Dayton (Active LDS, Mother of Three Including a Gay Son) joins us to share her latest thoughts on the intersection of being LDS and LGBTQ. Allison has been on this road for 4 decades with her gay brother Preston (who died in 2017) and her gay son Jake (currently at BYU) and has a unique and needed perspective. Allison started Lift and Love (check out liftandlove.org and @liftandlove on IG) which is a support group for LDS parents with LGBTQ kids. It also helps give local leaders more tools to better support LGBTQ youth. Life and Love also has a series of support groups (mentioned in the podcast) that is so needed and expanding. Life and Love is identity supportive and church supportive. I encourage everyone to listen to this podcast and connect with Lift and Love. It will help you as a parent, local leader or LGBTQ member. Thank you, Allison, for your great work. ** Please Check Out My LGBTQ Book At: ** Deseret Book: www.deseretbook.com/p/listen-learn-and-love-embracing-lgb

My friend Evie Jimenez (BYU Student, RM, Age 21) joins us to bravely talk about her eating disorder (anorexia nervosa). She discusses personal daily battles with the disorder since her diagnosis at age 11 and the difficulty of those years on a personal, family, and social level. Evie then talks about her road to hope and healing (family support, accepting her disorder, therapy, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ). She offers honest and vulnerable stories about the mental dialogue of her disorder including counting calories in the sacrament bread. Evie is now in recovery. She is looking forward to finishing her education at BYU and a career helping others recover from eating disorders. If you are working to solve an eating disorder or help others, please listen to this podcast. Evie’s story will help you. Thank you Evie for being on the podcast. You are brave and courageous. I was deeply moved hearing your story! ** Please Check Out My New Book (Improving Latter-day Saint Culture; link below)**

My friend Lauren Harrigian (who was on Episode 540) joins us to answer questions and give more insights following her original podcast episode. Thank you, Lauren, for being on the podcast and share more about your journey. You are awesome. ** Please Check Out My LGBTQ Book At: ** Deseret Book: www.deseretbook.com/p/listen-learn-and-love-embracing-lgbtq-latter-day-saints Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/1462135773 ** Want to develop church-supported LGBTQ activities in your local area? Please join our FB group below ** https://www.facebook.com/groups/1433556613672143