The Cultural Hall Podcast

Halloween Shenanigans As Halloween approaches, the duo shares their family plans. Kurt reveals that his family is dressing up as characters from The Office, while Richie admits to avoiding the festivities altogether. “Take me as I am, Richie. Okay? I don’t need to show up differently for the world,” Kurt declares, embracing authenticity. While discussing chili cook-offs, Kurt shares his secret strategy: “You bring a muffin tin, okay? You get a little bit of each [chili], determine which one you like the best, and go back for more of that.” This innovative approach not only maximizes flavor but also earns him some serious street cred among his friends. Church Reflections Transitioning from Halloween to church, Richie shares a recent experience where the youth took charge of a meeting. “I thought this was cool that they thought out of the box and did this today,” he says, reflecting on the positive impact of youth involvement. However, some listeners criticized the innovation, citing strict adherence to tradition. Richie passionately argues against rigid norms: “It should not be groundbreaking to ask the people that worship with you what they might like.” Kurt agrees, highlighting how straightforward adjustments in church dynamics can foster inclusivity. Final Thoughts As they wrap up, Richie shares an anecdote about a wedding he’s officiating for a self-identified witch, leading to humorous reflections on belief and tradition. This episode is filled with laughter, insightful discussions, and practical tips for navigating both holiday festivities and community engagements. For more stories, insights, and a deeper dive into this conversation, be sure to tune into the full episode! The post But It’s The Pelvic Thrust – AoN -1082 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Davis Smith, former CEO of Cotopaxi and recent mission president in Brazil, joins The Cultural Hall to share the profound highs and jarring lows of transitioning back to everyday life after an intensive period of service. Leading a Mission & Family Balance Davis reflects on the demanding yet deeply rewarding experience of presiding over a dense, urban Brazilian mission alongside his wife. He discusses the unique challenge of balancing the spiritual mentorship of hundreds of young missionaries with raising their two young sons in a fast-paced environment. The Shock of Coming Home Returning back to the United States, brought an unexpected mental toll. Davis opens up about the jarring emotional shift from a highly structured, purpose-driven environment to the quiet reality of regular life, describing the temporary feelings of guilt and emptiness many experience upon returning. A Guide for the Next Decade To help returning missionaries navigate this exact struggle, Davis introduces his newly written book. Serving as a practical mentor, the book offers “life lessons” on networking, maintaining spiritual discipline, and achieving financial freedom through early index fund investing. Buy The Next 10 Years Embracing Discomfort True to his thrill-seeking nature, Davis shares wild adventure stories—from spearfishing in the Bahamas to floating the Amazon for piranha—emphasizing that intentionally seeking out hard things is the ultimate catalyst for personal growth. The post The Next Ten Years – Davis Smith – 1081 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

The episode kicks off with the host welcoming Molly “the Ash Ashton” and Verlin for a news-focused discussion. The conversation quickly turns to the phenomenon of family secrets, with Molly recalling a funeral where photos of ex-wives were deliberately excluded, shocking a 12-year-old grandson who had no idea his father had a prior marriage. Verlin shares a parallel experience of discovering a living grandmother at age 12 who had been hidden from the family, leading to a broader discussion on how modern DNA testing continues to unearth hidden relatives today. Relief Society Realities and Leprechaun Games Molly opens up about the heavy emotional toll of serving as a Relief Society President, describing a grueling week that involved filing a missing person’s report and supporting a family at a substance abuse center. Lightening the mood, the hosts play a Notre Dame-themed round of “Smooch, Marry, Kill” featuring leprechaun versions of a mission companion, a Relief Society President, and a Primary child. Verlin humorously decides to kill the mission companion, smooch the Relief Society President, and marry the Primary child. London Travels and the Notre Dame Matchup Verlin recounts his recent two-week trip to England, highlighting a reunion with his childhood Primary teacher. He funded the overseas adventure by selling his tickets to the highly anticipated BYU vs. Notre Dame game, ultimately waking up at 12:30 AM in London to watch the broadcast. The hosts agree this matchup eclipses the BYU vs. Utah rivalry in national importance, noting the stadium’s deafening, Virginia Tech-level atmosphere. They also highlight unique game-day moments, including a remote opening prayer from a BYU Pathway student praying for Pope Leo, a fan reading the Book of Mormon on camera, and controversial officiating calls involving a fumble-spike just before halftime. The post Biggest Game at Lavell Edwards Stadium EVER?! – AoN- 1080 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Take the free Assessment Learn More In this episode of The Cultural Hall, Richie sits down with Reuben, the founder of Arise and Heal Recovery, to tackle a deeply entrenched and often stigmatized issue within the LDS community and beyond: pornography and sexual compulsion. Reuben challenges the traditional cultural response of shaming and hiding, explaining how silence only isolates those who are struggling from God, their leaders, and their loved ones. Instead of relying on exhausted “white-knuckle willpower,” Reuben breaks down the physiological reality of addiction, describing how pornography consumption creates massive dopamine spikes that eventually numb the brain’s receptors and trap individuals in a downward cycle of consumption and shame. The conversation shifts the paradigm from viewing this struggle as a simple moral failing to understanding it as a matter of brain chemistry and disconnection. Reuben explains that when individuals are overwhelmed by the urge to view pornography, their “middle brain” activates a protective “freeze” response, effectively shutting down the frontal lobe where genuine connection with God, oneself, and others takes place. True recovery, Reuben argues, is not about fighting the temptation directly or sitting paralyzed in a thought spiral, but about engaging the body and mind to rebuild synaptic connections and find healthy sources of dopamine. Through an 84-day process of self-mastery and addressing the root causes of pain and disconnection, Reuben offers a realistic, grace-filled roadmap for lasting healing. The post Arise Heal – Pornography and Sexual Compulsion – Reuben Aiton – 1079 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Temple Dedications Ephraim Utah Temple – #223? Dedicated October 11th, presided by Ronald Rasband Dedicatory Prayer 11 Stakes in Temple District Guatemala City Guatemala Miraflores Temple -# 224? Dedicated October 11th, presided by Gerrit Gong Dedicatory Prayer 19 Stakes, 1 District in Temple District 2nd Latin American city with two temples 100,000 people visited the open house  Visited by the President of Guatemala Montpelier Idaho Temple Announced that Henry B Eyring will dedicate the temple on October 18th Temple Open House Begins Modesto California Temple Media day on October 13th  Interior photos released almond blossoms, strawberries, agricultural fields, canal systems, local railroads and waterways flowing from the Sierra Nevada region. Linear patterns in the millwork give a nod to agricultural fields and irrigation systems of California’s Central Valley, and several pieces of artwork also tie to the valley’s landscape, waterways, orchards and agriculture. Cherrywood is used for the doors and stained millwork, while painted millwork uses paint-grade maple and poplar. Temple Groundbreakings Maceió Brazil Temple Held on October 10th, presided by B. Corey Cuvelier  Next to a Statue of Liberty  Iquitos Peru Temple Held on October 10th, presided by Sandino Román Largest city not connected to roads University Dean participates Cuernavaca Mexico Temple Scheduled for November 14th, presided by Moisés Villanueva Eket Nigeria Temple Scheduled for November 28th, presided by D. Martin Goury Rendering Released 18.850 sq. ft. single story building and rectangular spire with a diamond tessellation design  Calabar Nigeria Temple Scheduled for December 5th, presided by Christian C. Chigbundu Viña del Mar Chile Temple Scheduled for December 5th, presided by Sergio R. Vargas  Rendering Released 30,000 sq. ft. two-story rectangular building with double domes topped with cupulas Design influenced by the prominent French neoclassical and Venetian gothic architecture in the coast of chile Temple Renderings released Goiânia Brazil Temple 18,850 sq. ft. single story building with simple modern white spire Campo Grande Brazil Temple 11,300 sq. ft. single story building with spire with art glass Temple Site Announced Otalavo Ecuador Temple 6.05 Acre near Calle Bolivar and Calle Abya Yala Adjacent to the stake center for the Otavalo Ecuador Imbabura Stake Former hotel/wellness resort/ wellness center Temple Leaders Called Queretaro Mexico Temple Glendon Lyons Castillo and Guadalupe Ochoa López de Lyons of the Jurica Ward, Querétaro México Stake Orlando Florida Temple Victor Phillip Patrick and Elizabeth Fletcher Patrick of the South Tampa Ward, Tampa Florida Stake Construction Updates Yuma Arizona Temple Preliminary site development happening Huehuetenango Guatemala Temple Causing street flooding? Update: the construction workers have fixed the street.  Antananarivo Madagascar temple Prefabricated modules installed Lehi Utah Temple Site construction continues without a groundbreaking Spanish Fork Utah Temple City council approves zoning change for Master plan development called Oak Village  Sunnyvale California Temple The Planning Commission approved plans with conditions on September 28th after a 5.5 hour meeting. Allowing a 129 foot spire.  Cody Wyoming 18,500 people toured the temple Threatening man found competent to stand trial   Tale of two temple renovations Stockholm Sweden Temple Gold Angel Moroni place on new reconstructed temple Manhattan New York Temple New, taller spire installed on temple without Angel Moroni Two Anchorage Temples  Salt Lake Temple Mary and Martha Statue  Mostly open temple square during conference  Shoutout to Dedicate series from President Oaks More tickets released  Transportation plan to handle 22,000 people per day North Temple/Redwood Road parking with 1710 stalls with shuttle service from 7am to 10:30pm Bike Valet on Park Plaza Hotel site Commercial bus parking and drop off site behind church history library, volunteer parking nearby.  Secure Parameter around temple square with welcome gateway The post Lady Liberty and the Angel Moroni walk into a Temple – Temple Ticker – 1078 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.