Send us Fan Mail

What happens when faith becomes painful—but you still want to stay?

In this episode of Inside Out, Jim Bennett and Ian Wilks welcome author, speaker, and host of the Listen, Learn & Love podcast Richard Ostler for a candid conversation about belonging, compassion, and the power of creating space for people whose experiences don't fit neatly into traditional expectations.

Richard shares insights from years of listening to and supporting Latter-day Saints navigating faith crises, questions about church teachings, LGBTQ experiences, and complex family relationships. Together, the hosts and Richard explore what it means to lead with empathy rather than judgment, how authentic listening can build bridges across deep differences, and why creating a sense of belonging matters more than winning arguments.

Send us Fan Mail

For more than two years, the small town of Fairview, Texas has been at the center of one of the most closely watched temple disputes in recent Latter-day Saint history.

What began as a proposal for a new LDS temple quickly grew into a controversy over steeple height, zoning laws, religious freedom, local governance, and what it means to be a good neighbor.

In this episode of Inside Out, Ian and Jim sit down with Fairview Mayor Dr. John Hubbard for an in-depth conversation about the conflict, the city's perspective, and the path that led from a denied permit to a controversial compromise.

Send us Fan Mail

Ian and Jim sit down with renowned British investigative journalist John Sweeney, whose career has taken him from war zones and authoritarian regimes to some of the world's most controversial religious movements.

John discusses his acclaimed BBC documentary The Mormon Candidate, produced during Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, and reflects on his now-infamous interview with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. He shares behind-the-scenes insights into what happened before, during, and after the interview, how the Church responded, and how his views of Latter-day Saints evolved through the process.

Send us Fan Mail

Ian sits down with Jeff Strong, author of the groundbreaking book Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What Can We Learn from Them?

Drawing on research involving more than 20,000 current and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jeff explores one of the most important and emotionally charged questions facing faith communities today: Why are so many people stepping away from organized religion, and what can those who stay learn from their experiences?

Send us Fan Mail

What does it really mean to claim to be "the only true and living church on the face of the earth"? In this episode of Inside Out, Ian and Jim sit down with returning guest Greg Prince to wrestle with one of the boldest claims in Latter-day Saint theology — and the exclusive priesthood authority that underpins it.

Send us Fan Mail

Ian, Jim, and historian Greg Prince explore the controversial history of the Nauvoo Expositor and its lasting implications for honesty, institutional transparency, and the modern LDS Church. 

The discussion begins with a review of the Church’s official explanation for the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor printing press in 1844 and whether Joseph Smith’s actions as mayor of Nauvoo were legally or morally justified. Greg Prince argues that the expositor’s accusations—including plural marriage, theocratic leadership, secrecy, and theological innovation—were largely true, which made the publication uniquely threatening to Joseph Smith and the Church. The hosts discuss how the destruction of the press directly contributed to the events leading to Joseph Smith’s death at Carthage Jail.

Send us Fan Mail

Ian and Jim welcome back historian and author Greg Prince for a deep dive into one of the most controversial topics in Latter-day Saint history: the multiple accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision.

Together, they explore the historical record surrounding the First Vision, including the differences between Joseph Smith’s 1832, 1835, and 1838 accounts, the evolution of LDS teachings about the nature of God, and why the First Vision was largely absent from early missionary work and Church discourse for decades. Greg lays out the historical facts that have caused many members to struggle with faith, while Jim and Ian wrestle openly with what those facts mean spiritually, historically, and personally.

Send us Fan Mail

Ian, Jim, and returning guest Greg Prince tackle one of the most urgent and sensitive issues facing the Latter-day Saint community today: faith crisis.

Drawing on new research, personal experience, and candid discussion, the trio explores why so many members step away from the Church—and why common assumptions about sin, offense, or weakness often miss the mark. They examine the real drivers behind disaffiliation, including doctrinal concerns, historical questions, and a growing sense that the Church no longer resonates as it once did.

Send us Fan Mail

Ian and Jim explore a “tale of the unexpected” that turns out to be far more universal than dramatic.

Jim shares the story of how he ended up serving a mission—not through a sudden, life-altering conversion, but through a lifetime of quieter spiritual experiences he once felt weren’t “enough.” Along the way, he opens up about growing up as an outsider, navigating identity across different social worlds, and the pressure to make his story more compelling—even to himself.

Through a pivotal moment on his mission, Jim realizes that the story he’s been telling isn’t true—and that the real story, the honest one, is far more meaningful.

Send us Fan Mail

In this livestream, Ian and Jim are joined once again by historian and author Greg Prince for a candid, unfiltered conversation on one of the most talked-about developments in the Latter-day Saint world: the Church’s lawsuit against John Dehlin and Mormon Stories.

The conversation also touches on broader themes, including the “Streisand Effect,” the challenges of faith transitions, and the need for open, respectful dialogue—both inside and outside the Church.

In the final segment, the hosts briefly react to newly announced Young Women class names, raising questions about messaging, symbolism, and gender equity in Church programs.