Y Magazine

Love stories abound at BYU, and in this Valentine’s Day special of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) talks to three BYU alumni couples about their proposal stories.

High school sweethearts Stephanie Smith Eliason (BA ’91, MA ’95) and Eric Eliason (BA ’92) tell their story of flat tires and reconnection, Matthew Scott (BM ’06) and Heather Brown Scott (BA ’06) recount a chance encounter at the BYU Creamery and a showstopping proposal during a concert, and Kim Thornock (BA ’91) and Kareen Hursman Thornock (BA ’92) talk about their dancing dates.

This episode was based on the article “Popping the Question” from the Summer 2021 issue of Y Magazine.

If you liked this episode, you might enjoy another episode with alumni stories, “True Blue Friendship,” about friendships forged at BYU, and one about alumni service: “Going Forth—It’s What We Do: How BYU Grads are Making a Difference.”

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How much screen time should kids have? At what age should they be allowed to have a smartphone?

BYU alum Richard Culatta (BA ’03, MS ’06) answers these questions and more with helpful advice for parents trying to guide children through the digital world.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Archibald (BA ’01) talks with Culatta and explores how parents can create a family digital culture focused on responsibility and balance.

This episode is based on the article “Mind the App,” by Sara Atwood (BA ’10, MA ‘15), which will appear in the Winter 2025 issue of Y Magazine.

If you’d like to listen to more episodes with great parenting advice, check out these three: “How to Help Kids Love Reading with BYU Professor Paul Ricks,” “Artful Parenting: How to Make Creativity Part of Your Family Culture,” and “Making Peace: How to Mediate Conflict in Our Families.”

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How old is too old to learn to play an instrument?

The New Horizons Orchestra gives adults over 40 a chance to learn a string instrument—even if they’ve never played one before.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) talks with director Allison Bennett Taylor (BMu ’12, MMu ’22) and orchestra members about how the orchestra is about more than just music.

This episode is based on the article “Strings of Support,” by Abi Falin Horspool (’24), which will appear in the Winter 2025 issue of Y Magazine.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like another musical episode: “Take a Tour of BYU’s New Music Building,” or our episode “Lifelong Wellness.”

If you’re enjoying this podcast, we’d appreciate your feedback so we can make more of the types of episodes you like best. Take the survey.

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How do you inspire a love of reading in your children, siblings, nieces, nephews, or grandkids? With so many distractions, it can be difficult to make reading a priority. But Paul Ricks, BYU professor of children’s literature, says if we want children to value reading, we need to show them that we value it too.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) talks with Ricks about how to make reading an interactive and enriching experience for both children and adults. Ricks also gives several book recommendations, listed below:

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klaussen, I Talk Like a Like a River by Jordan Scott, The Arrival by Shaun Tan, The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day, Spiders by Nic Bishop, Seen and Unseen by Elizabeth Partridge, Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds, and Big by Vashti Harrison.

This episode is based on an upcoming article about about encouraging kids to love reading that will appear in the winter 2025 issue of Y Magazine.

You might also like these episodes: Artful Parenting: Making Creativity Part of Your Family Culture and Making Peace: How to Mediate Conflict in Our Families.

If you’re enjoying this podcast, we’d appreciate your feedback so we can make more of the types of episodes you like best. Take the survey.

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What do you see when you look at a pile of cardboard?

BYU Recycling Supervisor Bill Rudy sees trees.

BYU has been ramping up its sustainability efforts for decades, with recycling, responsible food service practices, energy efficiency, transportation options and more. This fall, BYU was recognized as one of just 140 institutions with a gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) takes listeners behind the scenes of BYU’s sustainability efforts by talking to Rudy; Bremen J. Leak (BA ’05), associate director of sustainability at BYU; Aaron Skabelund (BA ’95), bike enthusiast and director of the Office of Civic Engagement at BYU; and two students.

This episode is based on an upcoming article about BYU’s sustainability efforts that will appear in the winter 2025 issue of Y Magazine.

Check out other behind the scenes episodes: Take a Tour of BYU’s New Music Building and A Chat With President C. Shane Reese.

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BYU was named the No. 1 university for students studying abroad in a recent report from the International Institute of Education. BYU currently offers over 150 study abroad options each year to help students enhance their global perspectives while learning valuable lessons that couldn’t be taught in the classroom.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) talks with the director of BYU’s David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies, V. Stanley Benfell (BA ’87). Benfell discusses his own experience studying abroad as a student, the great programs BYU offers, and how alumni can make the most of their experiences abroad.

This episode is based on Benfell’s article “A World Campus,” from the fall 2024 issue of Y Magazine.

Check out these episodes about specific study abroad programs: Life and Breath: BYU Students Improve Public Health in Nepal, Students Engineer Prosthetic Solutions for Ecuador and Happiness 101.

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Does a “Utah accent” exist?

According to David S. Eddington (BA ’86, MA ’89), BYU emeritus linguistics professor, the language and accents used in Utah are always changing. But if you’ve heard the word “feel” pronounced like “fill” or the word “mountain” pronounced with a strong “t,” you might be hearing newer elements of a Utah accent. And what about those names—and unique spellings?

In this episode, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) breaks down Utah accents, language, and names with two BYU linguistics professors: Eddington, author of Utah English, and Dallin D. Oaks (BA ‘84) who recently co-edited a book called Perspectives about Latter-day Saint Names and Naming.

This episode is based on two Y Magazine articles: “Do Utahns Talk Funny,” written by Jennifer G. Jones (BS ’12), from the winter 2012 issue, and “What’s in a Baby Neighm?” by Miriam Brantley Merrill (’24), which appeared in the fall 2023 issue.

Check out another episode about how Artificial Intelligence is changing the landscape of language and writing: “Writing and Teaching with ChatGPT.”

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Since moving to the United States at age 8, Sabina Magar (’26) has always had a desire to return to her home country of Nepal. When Magar learned about BYU’s Nepal Global Health International Study Program, she saw it as the perfect opportunity.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) talks with BYU public health professor Steven M. Thygerson (BS ‘98), about starting the Nepal Global Health International Study Program and Magar about her experience returning to Nepal.

This episode is based on the article “Life and Breath,” written by Kate Hansen Roberson (BA ‘24), which appeared in the spring 2024 issue of Y Magazine. 

Learn more about the organization Days for Girls our episode with the founder and CEO, both of whom are BYU alumni: Saving Days: Ending Period Poverty with Days for Girls.

Check out other episodes about BYU’s study abroad programs: Mapping Molokai and Students Engineer Prosthetic Solutions for Ecuador.

If you’re enjoying this podcast, we’d appreciate your feedback so we can make more of the types of episodes you like best. Take the survey.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. New episodes post on the first and third Thursdays of each month.

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What can you learn from other faith traditions?

BYU religion professor Andrew C. Reed (BA ’04) says that interfaith efforts can help us develop, “generosity of spirit.” Reed is the Chair of the BYU Council for Interfaith Engagement, and he leads BYU students in interfaith efforts through the Interfaith Student Association and a study abroad focused on interfaith leadership.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) talks with Reed about how we can connect with people of other faith traditions.

This episode is based on the article “Friendship Among Faiths” by Kate Hansen Roberson (BA ’24) that appeared in the summer 2024 issue of Y Magazine.

Check out another episode on faith and service: “Religious Freedom with Elizabeth Clark.”

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For 29 years, BYU alum Sarah Jane Weaver (BA ’94) traveled across the world reporting on ministry tours, temple dedications, and humanitarian outreach as a writer and then the editor for the Church News. Now in her new role as the first female editor of the Deseret News, Weaver will continue recording truth for a global audience.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) talks with Weaver about her experiences at the Church News and the importance of being a record keeper.

This episode is based on an article about Sarah Jane Weaver written by Brooklyn Hughes Roemer (BA ’22) that will appear in the fall 2024 issue of Y Magazine.

Check out another episode on faith and service: “BYU Pioneers in Chaplaincy.”

If you’re enjoying this podcast, we’d appreciate your feedback so we can make more of the types of episodes you like best. Take the survey.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. New episodes post on the first and third Thursdays of each month.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.