This week, Anna Bryner and Elyse Slabaugh drop some wisdom about freedom of religion. Good news—turns out it's not just for lawyers! They talk about sticking up for people of other/no faiths, and why Gen Z should even care about freedom of religion. Stick around to the end to hear what law school taught Anna and Elyse about Christ being our perfect advocate.

Anna and Elyse are attorneys who are passionate about Freedom of Belief. They are the Co-Chairs of the Rising Generation Initiative for the International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS), where they empower young adults to become leaders in advancing religious freedom worldwide. They are passionate about building a world where everyone everywhere is treated with respect and has the freedom to live according to their beliefs without being persecuted.

Based in Lehi, UT, Anna spends her free time hiking national parks, growing sunflowers, exploring choral music, and cheering for BYU sports. Now working in Maryland, Elyse enjoys traveling, listening to jazz, reading historical fiction/non-fiction, and running.

Take a Leap is a production of BYUradio.

Moshe Nigri, the rabbi at the University of Utah, tells James and Lia about the importance of being someone's friend before sharing your religion. He also talks about how our generation is searching for purpose and suggests that the solution is—you guessed it—a connection with God.

Moshe Nigri is the Rabbi at the largest Jewish student organization in Utah, with over 120 Jewish students involved. The organization gives classes, organizes events and celebrates Jewish holidays together. Their main mission is to make the next generation of proud Jews who will carry on the faith of Judaism, and of course spreading love to the world.

Take a Leap is a production of BYUradio.

In this special live event, BYU football players Connor Pay and Chase Roberts give James and Lia (and our live audience) the scoop on their new podcast, Two Point Conversion. They talk about what football has taught them about Christlike service and leadership, and what their podcast has taught them about balancing gospel study, school, athletics, and more. So sit back, relax, and learn from Connor and Chase's collective wisdom.

Chase and Connor are the hosts of Two Point Conversion, a Come Follow Me podcast produced by BYUradio, and team captains for BYU football. Connor served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Washington D.C. and majored in entrepreneurial management. He's now preparing for the NFL draft. Chase served a mission in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and will return to BYU football for the 2025 season.

Take a Leap is a production of BYUradio.

Coming from a home of generational trauma, gospel artist Elenee Young uses music to heal her relationship with God. She tells James and Lia about her nonlinear career path (relatable) and trying to overcome imposter syndrome (also relatable), all while glorifying God. We also hear from James and Lia about how they've come to know God through various art forms, including the musicals Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Elenee is a Canadian multi-award-winning and JUNO-nominated Christian/gospel artist, songwriter, and producer based in Lloydminster, SK/AB. Elenee is gearing up for a 2025 tour while also executing an ambitious self-produced covers project featuring 17 reimagined worship songs. She is preparing to release a brand-new EP in Fall 2025, continuing to push creative boundaries and inspire listeners worldwide.

Take a Leap is a production of BYUradio.

For All the Saints podcast host Ben Hancock tells us how he gets the courage to share his faith on such a public platform and—perhaps even more nerve racking—in private interactions. He shares how the death of a family member pushed him to gain a testimony of his own, and how that testimony is now helping him prepare to be a father!

Ben Hancock is the creator and host of the For All the Saints podcast, as well as The Country House podcast. He currently works as the content manager for Modern Wisdom podcast and makes video contributions to the Come Follow Me app. He served a mission in Singapore and Malaysia and is married to Olivia.

Take a Leap is a production of BYUradio.

Gospel artist K-Anthony uses his musical talents to honor God and inspire others, but it hasn't been an easy road. He shares what he's learned about trusting God, from nearly drowning as a teenager, to moving to Canada from Jamaica, to now enrolling in grad school at the height of his music career. He also tells us about the symbolism behind his music video "Free."

K-Anthony's early musical experiences began in the church he attended in his youth, located in Falmouth, Jamaica. K-Anthony’s songs are well crafted with the lyrics front and center with a decidedly optimistic tone, but the underlying theme of his music is his love for God and hope for the future. K-Anthony is honored and humbled to have appeared in Forbes Magazine, and to be a 2021 JUNO Award nominee, the 2023 GMA Gospel Artist of the Year, and the 2024 JUNO Award recipient for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year.

Take a Leap is a production of BYUradio.

Is the film industry more than just bright lights and flashy action scenes? This week, Ryann Heim gives us the low down on the faith and film community. She tells us how even movies that don't explicitly mention God can teach us about Godly attributes and help us see more of the human experience. She also highlights the importance of wrestling with God and bringing Him your hard questions.

Ryann Heim is the Director of Programming for the Windrider Institute. Throughout her five years on the Windrider team, Ryann has utilized her skills and passions to highlight the intersection of faith & film. Whether she is curating the Windrider Studios film library or shaping the Windrider Summit event at Sundance, Ryann creates space for meaningful conversations to take place among students and filmmakers. Ryann grew up in Dallas, Texas, and went on to study Film at Harding University. She now lives in Boise, Idaho, where she enjoys her career, church community and dog Weezer.

Take a Leap is a production of BYUradio.

Podcast host Wilson Gustaveson joins the TAL Hosts to share stories of people overcoming doubts and rediscovering their faith. Whether you're struggling with your own questions or feeling firm in your faith right now, there's something in this episode for you.

Wilson Gustaveson is one of the hosts of Latter-day Believers and Saints Unscripted. Latter-day Believers shares LDS conversion stories on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and podcast streaming services. Saints Unscripted strives to present information about the gospel of Jesus Christ in genuine, compelling, and loving ways. He is a BYU student studying sports journalism.

Take a Leap is a production of BYUradio.

Amin Aaser talks about his company, Noor Kids, which helps Muslim kids build confidence in their religious identity through picture books. Noor Kids publishes one of the world’s fastest-growing Islamic children’s book series with titles in over 250,000 homes across 25 countries. Amin shares about his rocky first attempt at writing a children's book, as well as how to invest our time for the best returns.

Amin began his career in business management, working for Fortune 500 companies such as 3M, Target Corporation, and General Mills. He gained his Master’s Degree at UC Berkeley where he focused in faith-based social enterprises. He graduated magna cum laude with distinction from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. He lives with his family in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Take a Leap is a production of BYUradio.

In this episode of Take a Leap, we welcome a new co-host: James Sturdevant. James is a sophomore at BYU majoring in cybersecurity. He’s been working behind the scenes (or in TikToks) for a while, and we are happy that he is making his hosting debut.

James and Lia are joined in this episode by Tivvi Pare, the executive director of Horton Center, a camp and retreat center on Pine Mountain in New Hampshire. Tivvi believes that Horton Center is a 'thin place' where the divide between us and the divine feels smaller. So, make a s’more and dive into another great episode of Take a Leap!

Tivvi Pare was born and raised in Nashua, New Hampshire. Tivvi attended Clemson University where she earned two degrees in elementary education and went on to teach 4th and 5th grade. Tivvi grew up attending Horton Center as a camper and has been on staff since 2016. Her favorite camp activities involve hiking with her collie mix Zimmi, sleeping out under the stars, and jumping into the refreshing Peabody river for a swim.

Take a Leap is a production of BYUradio.