April Meservy Interview #LightTheWorld

Five-time Pearl Award-winning singer/songwriter, April Meservy, has been featured on over 100 albums and compilations released all over the world, as well as in film and commercial work.

April’s cover of “With or Without You” is currently being featured in the Short Performance routine of Canadian pair figure skaters, Eric Radford and Meagan Duhamel, in their bid this season for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Recently a Posi Award Finalist in the “Social Action and Justice” category in the 11th Annual Posi Music Awards, April performed her nominated original song at the awards ceremony held in Tampa, Florida. Her latest music video, “Truth Speak,” was also a 2016 Posi Award Finalist in the “Music Video” category and was featured at the festival.

I’ll Be Home For Christmas – April Meservy #LightTheWorld Video

Originally hailing from Reno, Nevada, April has brought her love for singing and songwriting to her performances in places as far away as China and as close as Salt Lake City, such as her invitation to sing in Salt Lake City’s Olympic Square during the 2002 Winter Olympics. She has performed alongside platinum-selling singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson, CAKE, Lindsey Stirling, David Archuleta, among other notable musicians across the country from Los Angeles to Boston.

April has incredible vocal diversity and performs different genres of music from jazz and blues to folk and pop. She is a multiple peal award winner, and now owns and operates her own record label Forêt d’Musique, (Jèrriais: “Forest of Music”) on which she released Somewhere Between Sunsets and on which she, and her small management team, continue to release new music. April is joining us as part of the Light the World Initiative.

 

For more information on April Meservy, click here to visit her website.

For more information on the #LightTheWorld Campaign click here.

Listen to April Meservy’s cover of With Or Without You as part of the Canadian Figure Skater performance as referenced in the podcast.


Chad Conrad Interview – Episodes 3.14

Chad P. Conrad grew up in Manhattan Beach, California, and served a mission in Mexico City. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree from Boston University, both in philosophy. Chad taught philosophy at Brigham Young University for seven years and has taught full time for LDS Seminaries and Institutes of Religion for twenty years. He married Stacy in the Manti Temple and they are now being raised by eight children in Orem, Utah!

To purchase a copy of Doubt Your Doubts, click here!


Olive Tree Sisters Interview – Episode 3.13

Christine Layton Graham is a writer, editor, and college English instructor living in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her books include When Pioneer Wagons Rumbled West, Three Little Robbers,and Peter Peter Picks a Pumpkin House. She has also had pieces published in the New Era and the Friend.

Joan Layton Merrell is a professional calligrapher and fiber artist living in Jefferson City, Missouri. She has exhibited regionally and has been represented by galleries in two states. Her calligraphic art has been published in Letter Arts Review and The Calligrapher’s Engagement Calendar.

Carol Layton Ogden is an artist living in Springville, Utah. Carol studied design at BYU. In recent years she has studied under a variety of artists, including Ann Kullberg and J.K. Richards.

 

To purchase a copy of The Olive Tree book, click here.


Brock Booher Interview #2: Episode 3.8

Brock Booher grew up on a farm in rural Kentucky, the fourth of ten children, where he learned to work hard, use his imagination, and believe in himself. He left the farm to pursue the friendly skies as a pilot, and currently flies for a major US carrier. A dedicated husband and father of six children, he began writing out of sheer arrogance, but the writing craft quickly humbled him. During that process, he discovered that he enjoyed writing because it is an endeavor that can never quite be mastered. He still gladly struggles everyday to improve his writing and storytelling skills. Brock is the author of Healing Stone from Sweetwater Books, and is here today to talk about his book, sort of book, we’ll define it a little later, Return and Continue with Honor: A Guide for Returning Missionaries.

To purchase a copy of Return and Continue with Honor: A Guide for Returning Missionaries, click here.


Randal Wright Interview – Episode 3.5

Randal A. Wright obtained a PhD in Family Studies from Brigham Young University. His dissertation addressed the impact of electronic media (TV, movies, music and he internet) on the attitudes and behaviors of adolescents. He worked with the church educational System for many years as an institute Director and taught in the religion department at BYU. He is the founder of lifemission4u.com.

He is the author of several boo(s including-25 Mistakes LDS Parents Make and  How to Avoid Them; Families in Danger: Protecting your Family in an x-rated world; The case forChastity: Helping Youth Stay Morally Clean and Achieving Your Life Mission)

He has written chapters in several other books and articles in magazines as well. He has been a frequent speaker to adults at Know Your Religion and has spoken regularly to the youth to the youth at especially for Youth and youth conferences throughout the United States, Canada and England. He and his wife, Wendy, are the parents of five married children and have sixteen grandchildren. Randal A. Wright is a fifth generation Texan. Randal Wright is the author of Book of Mormon Miracle, 25 reasons to Believe.


Nicole Carpenter Interview – Episode 3.4

Nicole Carpenter is a mother of four, a communication consultant, columnist, and owner and operator of the popular blog MOMentity. She has a degree in Communications and Public relations and has now joined the ranks of the published author with her title 52 Weeks to Fortify Your Family.

To purchase a copy of 52 Weeks to Fortify Your Family, click here.


Darla Isackson Interview – Episode 3.3

Darla Isackson learned about adversity at an early age. She received life-threatening third degree burns as a child and has had health challenges all her life as a result. She served a full-time mission to Southern California, graduated as a valedictorian from Utah State University, married a returned missionary in the temple, gave birth to five healthy sons, and has been a professional writer, editor, and speaker for decades.

For Darla, life didn’t turn out as she planned. Divorce, remarriage, a blended family that didn’t blend well, serious car accidents, 7 preemie grandchildren, and ongoing health challenges were only prelude to her biggest heartbreak: losing a son to depression, alcohol, and drugs, then, to suicide.

In 2001 she became a regular columnist for Meridian Magazine online, and has posted close to 300 articles. In 2009 she released her book titled, Trust God No Matter What! and in 2010, the book called After My Son’s Suicide: An LDS Mother Finds Comfort in Christ and Strength to Go On. You can learn more about them on her web site: darlaisackson.com.


Terri Pontius Interview – Episode 2.46

Terri Jeanne Muhlestein is not a name common among Latter-day Saint literature. Her married name Terri Pontius, might begin to sound more familiar, but as it is attached to her now late husband, John Pontius, author of the Journey to the Veil, Visions of Glory, The Triumph of Zion, Following the Light of Christ into His Presence, and the Millennial Quest series. The books Jenny’s Christmas Gift: A True Story, and Wee Three Kings” have been released posthumously by Cedar Forth and with Terri’s stamp of approval.

To purchase We Three Kings – Click here

To purchase Jenny’s Christmas Gift – Click here

Link to a listing of books by John M. Pontius – Click here


Dan Barker Interview – Episode 2.44

Dan Barker loves the outdoors, so much so that he went to school to become a forester. After enjoying an abbreviated career with the forest service, Dan is now currently employed in the food industry. Dan is married and has a handful of children and an even bigger handful of grandchildren. Dan is the author of multiple titles including Unique Stories and Faces from LDS History, Mormon History 101, Little Known stories about the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Old Testament Explained Through Modern Revelation. Dan is also the author/compiler of the newly released book Seeds of Faith.

To purchase Dan Barker’s book, click here.


Terryl and Fiona Givens Interview – Episode 2.43

Terryl Givens holds the James A. Bostwick chair of English and is Professor of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond and the author of several books. His writing has been praised by the new York Times as “provocative reading” and includes the most recent title, When Souls Had Wings, a history of the idea of pre-mortal life in Western Thought.

Fiona Givens is a retired modern language teacher with undergraduate degree’s in French and German and a graduate degree in European History. She is now an independent scholar who has published in several journals and reviews in Mormon studies, including the Journal of Mormon History, Exponent II, and LDS Living.

Terryl and Fiona are the grandparents of five, and parents of six.

To purchase a copy of The Crucible of Doubt: Reflections on the Quest for Faith, click here.