.png)
Study Faith with AI
Join AI podcast hosts: Paul Carter and Meg Jensen in an AI-generated podcast exploring the history, beliefs, and culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We balance facts and faith as you search for truth.
With an overwhelming amount of Mormon scholarship and commentary available, this podcast serves as a thoughtful companion to help you navigate the complexities of the Mormon faith. Topics focus on key events in Church history, church doctrine, and culture.
Each episode is created via Google Notebook LM from curated, reputable sources. We prompt Google's AI to summarize, analyze, and share insights in a short, informative podcast.
Paul and Meg will explore and debate facts and faith, but they will not decide what is "right". Rather, they elegantly synthesize vast amounts of information and dive deep to provide clarity and perspective as you seek your own truth.
Tune in to explore faith through a modern, innovative lens.
Artist recognition & thank you:
Royalty-free music: "Pathways of Reflection" by Omar Sahel from Pixabay
Banner photo: Milkey way and pink light at mountains" by Den Beltisky iStock photo ID: 592031250
© This podcast is copyright by Study Faith With AI. 2025. All rights reserved.
Episodes
149 episodes
S11 E20 Why Stay LDS?
Episode 20 of Apostates explores why some Latter-day Saints choose to stay in the Church despite significant challenges to their traditional beliefs. We examine the complex reasons people remain connected—from iden...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 20
•
23:44
.png)
S11 E19 Does Excommunication Work?
Episode 19 of Apostates explores whether excommunication effectively serves the LDS Church's goals by examining Margaret Tuscano's insights from Gospel Tangents. We analyze how church discipline impacts movements l...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 19
•
7:51
S11 E18 LDS Church Membership Council
Episode 18 of Apostates explores Church membership councils in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, examining their stated purposes, procedures, and recent terminology changes. We discuss when councils ...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 18
•
27:28
S11 E17 General Membership | LDS Faith Crisis
Episode 17 of Apostates explores the widespread phenomenon of LDS faith crises affecting dedicated church members across all demographics. We examine how easy internet access to uncorrelated church history creates ...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 17
•
31:08
S11 E16 Influencers | Disciplining Digital Dissenters
Episode 16 of Apostates examines the disciplinary actions taken by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints against prominent online voices including John Dehlin, Jeremy Runnells, Bill Reel, and Nemo the Mormon....
•
Season 11
•
Episode 16
•
26:40
S11 E15 Activists | The Price of Public Protest
Episode 15 of Apostates explores three prominent LDS activists who challenged Church policies: Sonia Johnson (Equal Rights Amendment), Kate Kelly (women's ordination), and Sam Young (child protection). We examine t...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 15
•
20:00
S11 E14 Intellectuals | The September Six
Episode 14 of Apostates explores the September 1993 disciplinary actions against six prominent LDS intellectuals known as the "September Six." We examine the Church context of the early 1990s, including leadership ...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 14
•
25:02
S11 E13 Mormon Splinter Groups
Episode 13 of Apostates explores the complex world of groups that trace their origins to Joseph Smith but diverged from the mainstream LDS Church. From the liberal Community of Christ to fundamentalist polygamous s...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 13
•
31:12
S11 E12 The Mormon Success Crisis & Schism
Episode 12 of Apostates explores the chaotic succession crisis following Joseph Smith's 1844 martyrdom. We examine how multiple claimants—Sidney Rigdon, Brigham Young's Twelve Apostles, James Strang, and the Smith ...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 12
•
23:53
S11 E11 Sidney Rigdon | Doctrinal Leader to Defector
Episode 11 of Apostates explores the remarkable story of Sidney Rigdon, Joseph Smith's first counselor and early partner in leading the Latter-day Saint movement. From his beginnings as a Baptist preacher to his cr...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 11
•
19:11
S11 E10 David Whitmer | Faithful Witness and Outspoken Critic
Episode 10 of Apostates explores David Whitmer's journey from foundational witness to Church critic. Despite never wavering on his Book of Mormon testimony, Whitmer left the Church in 1838, arguing it departed from...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 10
•
19:23
S11 E9 Martin Harris | The Wavering Witness
Episode 9 of Apostates explores the complex life of Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon plates. Despite his powerful spiritual experience seeing the plates and hearing God's voice, Harri...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 9
•
24:37
S11 E8 Oliver Cowdery | A Foundational Witness Gets Fed Up
Episode 8 of Apostates explores the dramatic rise and fall of Oliver Cowdery, one of the most foundational figures in early Latter-day Saint history. From serving as principal scribe for the Book of Mormon and rece...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 8
•
24:35
S11 E7 Why Did Emma Smith Stay in Nauvoo?
Episode 7 of Apostates explores the complex reasons why Emma Hale Smith chose to remain in Nauvoo, Illinois after Joseph Smith's death instead of traveling west with Brigham Young and the main body of Saints. We ex...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 7
•
16:39
S11 E6 Sarah Pratt Stands Strong
Episode 6 of Apostates explores Sarah M. Pratt's complex journey from devoted member to vocal critic of early Mormonism. We examine her alleged encounter with Joseph Smith's polygamous proposal, her steadfast refus...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 6
•
28:37
S11 E5 Dissent Among the Original LDS Twelve Apostles
Episode 5 of Apostates explores the original Quorum of the Twelve Apostles called in 1835, examining how only three remained faithful throughout their lives while eight faced Church discipline (one died in a battle).
•
Season 11
•
Episode 5
•
24:50
S11 E4 Joseph Smith's First Presidency Falls Apart
Episode 4 of Apostates explores three of Joseph Smith's Counselors who roke from the Church: Jesse Gause, John C. Bennett, and William Law.Sources
•
Season 11
•
Episode 4
•
24:18
S11 E3 The Great Kirtland Apostasy
Episode 3 of Apostates explores the Kirtland Crisis of 1837, the largest mass departure in early Church history when 10-15% of members left. We examine how Joseph Smith's expanding role from spiritual leader to bus...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 3
•
19:03
S11 E2 Who Are Apostates Really?
Episode 2 of Apostates discusses Alan D. Roberts' groundbreaking analysis of apostasy in Mormonism, challenging traditional stereotypes of those labeled "apostate." We examine how 61% of Joseph Smith's closest asso...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 2
•
25:51
S11 E1 Prologue: Apostates | Brother Buzz Finds Lost Sheep
In this prologue to Season 11: Apostates, Brother Buzz explores the concept of apostasy through the lens of "material non-disclosure" - examining what happens when crucial information is withheld before making sacred c...
•
Season 11
•
Episode 1
•
13:10
S10 E25 The Cost of Concealed Truth
Episode 25 concludes the season Challenges by exploring the concept of material non-disclosure in religious contexts, focusing specifically on the Mormon faith crisis experience. We examine the Church's Correlation...
•
Season 10
•
Episode 25
•
11:55
S10 E24 Money Matters: Widows' Mites & Holy Holdings
Episode 24 of Challenges explores the complex financial structure of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, examining its vast wealth estimated at around $240 billion in total assets as of 2024. ...
•
Season 10
•
Episode 24
•
14:48
S10 E23 Money Matters: From Consecration to Corporation
Episode 23 of Challenges explores the financial evolution of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from early communal living principles in Kirtland to today's $200+ billion investment portfolio.
•
Season 10
•
Episode 23
•
21:03