What would make a 7-year-old Joseph Smith refuse alcohol before undergoing one of the most excruciating surgeries imaginable—decades before the Word of Wisdom was ever revealed?

Once an ex-LDS atheist, now a faithful Latter-day Saint and renowned Joseph Smith expert, Don Bradley shares one of the most powerful discoveries he’s ever made about Joseph’s life.  This isn’t just another “Joseph Smith refused alcohol” story—it’s a window into his character and the cultural and historical context most people have never heard.

Don opens up about the heartbreaking loss of his own young son—and how that experience gave him a deeply personal window into Joseph Smith’s life, particularly Joseph’s own experiences as a child and as a father. That shared lens of love, loss, and empathy adds a profound human dimension to both the history and the man behind it.

We also explore Don’s personal faith journey—leaving the Church, the discoveries that shaped his perspective, and the path that ultimately led him back. From Church history to raw personal experiences, this conversation is real, unfiltered, and full of insights that could change the way you see Joseph Smith and the Restoration.

Everyone says Gen Z is leaving religion… but what if they’re actually leading a spiritual revival?

In this episode of Faithful Anyway, I sit down with David Butler to talk about what’s really going on with today’s rising generation. Are they rebelling against faith—or are they spiritually starving for something deeper, more real, and more rooted in who God really is? We unpack the misconceptions, the pain points, and the surprising hunger that so many young people have for truth, grace, and connection with God.

If you’ve ever wondered whether faith is dying or being reborn in a new form, this conversation is for you.

Dr. Marcus Martins made history as the first Black missionary to serve after the 1978 revelation that extended the priesthood to all worthy male members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But that’s not what he wants to be known for.

In this conversation, Dr. Martins opens up about something far more personal and powerful: his quiet, steady choice to follow Christ, even when some questions didn’t have answers.

He didn’t stay in the Church because he ignored the hard things. He stayed because he saw something true—something deep—in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Something that spoke to both his spirit and his intellect.

This episode isn’t about rehashing history. It’s about what it means to be a disciple—when it’s not flashy, when it’s not easy, and when faith has to walk ahead of clarity. We talk about the difference between doubts and questions.

About how real belonging looks in a Church that’s still growing. And about the power of remembering the moments when the Spirit whispered, “You’re home.”

Listen to the full conversation and let us know what stood out to you most.

Many faithful Saints silently wrestle with the same question: “Why do I still feel broken?” In this powerful episode, Dr. Kawika Allen unpacks the hidden spiritual struggle of scrupulosity—anxiety disguised as righteousness—and how it convinces even the most devoted disciples that they’re never enough.

What if the reason you feel unworthy isn’t because you’ve failed, but because you’ve been trying to earn what was never meant to be earned?

We explore the toxic grip of maladaptive perfectionism, the lies it tells, and the liberating truth that Christ’s grace meets us in our mess—not after we’ve cleaned it up.

If faith has started to feel more like a burden than a blessing, this conversation will help you rediscover the rest and relief that comes from receiving, not performing for, the Savior’s love.

Is fatherhood just underappreciated, or is it under attack?

Thirty years ago, The Family: A Proclamation to the World declared that fathers are to preside, provide, and protect. Today, fatherhood is mocked, minimized, or erased altogether.

We’ve gone quiet—afraid the truth is too controversial, the standard too high, the damage already done.

But Dr. Tim Rarick makes a powerful case: the world doesn’t need perfect dads—it needs present ones.

The Proclamation isn’t a list of impossible expectations. It’s a rescue plan, a reminder of who we are, and who we’re meant to become.

Because the more fathers stay silent to avoid failure, the more we contribute to the very collapse we were called to prevent.

In a culture that’s delaying, rejecting, and redefining marriage, what’s keeping young people from the relationships they deeply want?

BYU professor Dr. Brian Willoughby breaks down the hidden fears, mixed messages, and spiritual confusion behind modern dating and what the restored gospel can uniquely offer.

We discuss:

This conversation is a wake-up call and a message of hope. The doctrine hasn’t changed—but our culture has.

What if the very thing you prayed would go away… is actually God’s invitation to know Him better?

Ron Squire was living the life he planned, until a fall left him paralyzed and full of doubt. His faith didn’t feel like enough.

But through the unlikely lens of Viktor Frankl, and a God who doesn’t waste suffering, Ron discovered something deeper: Pain isn’t punishment. It’s a privilege.

And when you stop running from it… You might just find the faith you’ve been missing.

Why do people lose their faith?

Psychologist and BYU-I professor, Dr. Jeffrey Thayne, uncovers the deeper desires shaping our beliefs.

Challenging the assumption that logic alone drives our convictions, Jeffrey reveals how moral intuitions, molded by our communities and culture, hold the key to navigating faith and doubt. Unlocking these answers can strengthen our own faith and help us better navigate relationships with those who have stepped away.

Most of us celebrate the Resurrection but quietly avoid the Crucifixion. Why?

In this vulnerable and eye-opening conversation, John Hilton III shares how facing Christ’s suffering can unlock a deeper connection to His love, His power, and His victory over death.

If you’ve ever felt distant from Jesus, this episode will change how you see Him—and how you feel about your covenant connection with Him.

What happens when everything you believe suddenly unravels?

Austin Fife (Light and Truth Letter) shares his deeply personal journey through faith, doubt, and rediscovery. From powerful spiritual experiences to moments of uncertainty, Austin opens up about what led him to question his beliefs—and what ultimately brought him back.

Austin shares the moment he realized he no longer believed in God, his wife’s unexpected response to that revelation, and the answers to hard questions that renewed his faith.