Y Magazine

Sitting in a humdrum office, recent BYU grad Isaiah G. Shields (BS ’19) realized that there was a whole world out there for him to discover—and he was missing it. And so he decided to take a walk—a really, really long walk. In early 2020 he stepped from his Provo home’s driveway and began his journey across America, traversing 28 states and 8,600 miles over 500 days. In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, Shields joins host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA’ 01) to share stories that he’ll remember forever from his trek. Listen in for Shield’s experiences braving the elements, sharing powerful moments with ordinary people, and feeling the satisfaction of challenge.   This episode is based in the article “Getting His Steps In,” written Maya Lund (’24), which will appear in the spring 2024 issue of Y Magazine. Watch here to tag along on Isaiah Shields’s most recent adventures. 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.

Who wouldn’t want a peaceful life? Making that desire a reality is where many of us get stuck. But Emily de Schweinitz Taylor (BA ’97, PhD ’24), an expert in mediation and conflict resolution, believes that even a three-year-old can learn to navigate conflict effectively. The trick? Practicing a few simple communication tools. On this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, Taylor and host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) discuss five ways to deal with disagreement and how to help children do the same. Listen in and learn how to mediate and de-escalate conflict with Taylor’s five conflict resolution skills. This episode is based on the article “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” written by Sara Smith Atwood which will appear in the spring 2024 issue of Y Magazine. Check out Emily de Schweinitz Taylor’s books Raising Mediators and Conflict Fluent: Mastering the Five Conflict Approaches. Listen to Elder Uchtdorf’s referenced talk here. 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.

BYU alumni from all walks of life are leaning into the second half of the university’s motto: "Go forth to serve." In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, hear three different stories about alums who have bloomed where they were planted—turning their unique circumstances into opportunities to serve others. Listen in as host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) uncovers stories of preemie miracles and playhouses, hope for foster children, and mental-health help for farmers. This episode is based on the magazine’s Going Forth section, which appears in each issue of Y Magazine. If you know a BYU alum who is making the world a better place through their service, please let us know by sending an email to alumninews@byu.edu. 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.

Byron J. Adams (BS ’93), BYU’s always-chill “worm herder,” lives in Antarctica for months each year to conduct some mind-blowing microfauna research. On this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, join Adams and host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) to uncover his passion for the natural world. From his origins as a free-range kid with a fascination for Mother Nature to a biologist who has a nematode namesake, Adams harnesses his curiosity and even his ADHD (which he calls his superpower) to ask the big scientific questions—and he helps his students do the same. Listen in for Adams’s adventures and his ideas on fostering our innate creativity. This episode is based in the article “Byron’s Excellent Adventure,” written by Brittany Karford Rogers (BA ’07), which will appear in the spring 2024 issue of Y Magazine. To learn more about Byron Adams and his story, watch here, here, and here. 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.

When BYU economics professor Joseph P. Price (BA ’03) realized that FamilySearch lacked coverage of many African American and international individuals, he employed AI tools to expand coverage of the human family and help build our genealogical ties. Through BYU’s Record Linking Lab (rll.byu.edu), his team has already added 50 million people to the tree. But the work isn’t done. The lab calls on the rising generation to broaden its circle of love by adding to the family tree and creating a wealth of names ready for temple ordinances. On this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, join host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) and Joe Price as they unpack the inspiration behind the Record Linking Lab, how it finds and connects people, and how you can get involved. This episode was based on the article “Linking Families” by Miriam Brantley Merrill in the winter 2023 issue of Y Magazine. Get involved with the Record Linking Lab here and find more BYU-created family-history resources from the Family History Technology Lab. 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 here. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. New episodes post biweekly on Thursdays.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Odds are, you’ve experienced loneliness at least a time or two. According to BYU psychology professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad (BS ’94, MS ’98), loneliness is a part of everyone’s human experience; and feeling isolated can be worse for your health than big-name problems like obesity, alcoholism, and pollution. On this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) and Holt-Lunstad discuss the biological explanation behind feelings of loneliness, the effects of social isolation on physical health, and the power of social connection. Listen in for tips on maintaining a healthy social life and connecting with those around you. This episode was based on the article “Loneliness: The Shadow Pandemic” by Melody McGrath Warnick in the summer 2020 issue of Y Magazine. If you’re enjoying this podcast, we’d really appreciate your feedback in a listener survey, so we can make more of the types of episodes you like best. Take the survey here. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. New episodes post biweekly on Thursdays.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever made an unlikely friend who ended up changing your life? Turns out, that’s not so uncommon here at Brigham Young University. In this episode, we’ll hear from four alumni who share their unique stories of friendship—each starting on campus and making a lasting impact. From unrequited crushes to Christlike service, these tales can teach us a thing or two about how to be a true friend. This episode is based on the First Person article “Forever BYU Friends” in the winter 2024 issue of Y Magazine. If you’d like to submit a BYU memory for publication in First Person for a future issue, we’re currently collecting your (reverently) humorous, heartwarming, or inspiring stories about the Provo Temple. The deadline to submit an experience is March, 20, 2023. Email firstperson@byu.edu with ancedotes of up to 300 words. If you’re enjoying this podcast, we’d really appreciate your feedback in a listener survey, so we can make more of the types of episodes you like best. Take the survey here. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. New episodes post biweekly on Thursdays.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To enhance your Come, Follow Me study of Book of Mormon in 2024, learn 10 study techniques from BYU religion professors Joseph M. Spencer (BA ’04) and Daniel L. Belnap (BA ’96, MA ’99). Whether you’re studying the Book of Mormon individually, as a family, in a seminary or institute class, or in Sunday School, Spencer and Belnap suggest we “zoom in and out” as we read, looking at the scriptures on both a micro and macro level. Technique 1: Investigate the social and cultural context.Technique 2: Think about Mormon’s editorial choices.Technique 3: Apply what you read to your own life.Technique 4: Look at each book as a whole.Technique 5: Read sermons of individual prophets and look for themes.Technique 6: Analyze (and even act out) individual stories.Technique 7: Focus on one verse and ask specific questions.Technique 8: Remove the punctuation and then add it back in yourself.Technique 9: Look up meanings of individual words.Technique 10: Read the entire Book of Mormon in a short period of time. Articles and Resources by Dan BelnapArticles and Resources by Joseph Spencer This is episode is based on the article “Slow Down Your Book of Mormon Study,” a Q&A with Spencer in the winter 2024 issue of Y Magazine.If you’re enjoying this podcast, we’d really appreciate your feedback in a listener survey, so we can make more of the types of episodes you like best. Take the survey here. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer, Y Magazine podcast host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) took a serious tumble—a fall of 30 feet while rock climbing in Provo's Rock Canyon. Miraculously, she landed in the only Whitney-shaped clearing possible—an inch or two higher or to the right, and she would have hit her head on a rock. The injuries she did sustain weren’t insignificant—from a shattered sacrum to a grisly compound wrist fracture, Whitney had a long road to recovery ahead of her. However, Whitney recalls the immediate spiritual promptings she received from God as soon as the accident occurred that let her know that this experience was going to help her—and her family—learn and grow. She shares her spiritual lessons in this episode of the Y Magazine podcast. This episode is based on the upcoming article “Lessons from the Fall” by Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) from the winter 2024 issue of Y Magazine. Also, if you’re enjoying this podcast, we’d really appreciate your feedback in a listener survey, so we can make more of the types of episodes you like best. Take the survey here. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who comes to mind when you think of your favorite teacher? It’s probably someone who ignited a passion, instilled confidence, or cared deeply. On this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, join host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) in chatting with two inspiring teachers who graduated from BYU and went forth to teach: high school physics teacher Wesley R. Morgan (BS ’18) in Springville, Utah, and ESL and ethnic-studies teacher Natalia Alvarez Benjamin (BS ’99, MA ’07) in Rochester, Minnesota. Learn about how these teachers get creative to reach their pupils—from Morgan’s remote-control cars, balloon experiments, and daily hands-on lab activities to Benjamin’s assignment for students to interview an admirable person in their community. Then hear about what drives these teachers in their profession. You may even be inspired to go thank a teacher of your own. This episode is based on the article “A Mile in Their Shoes” by Margaret J. Sheffield (’23) in the winter 2022 issue and the article “Resonating Lessons” by Rachel Hatch Webb (’24) in the fall 2023 issue of Y Magazine.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In May 2023, a group of BYU engineering students touched down at the airport in Quito, Ecuador. They were headed to Prótesis Imbabura, a small prosthetics clinic. It was time to put their work to the test: the students had been designing and redesigning two key components for prosthetic legs—liners and foot shells. Their goal was to make components that were both affordable and comfortable and that could be manufactured locally to avoid import costs. This project was done by a team of students in the Global Engineering Outreach Program (GEO) at BYU and an engineering capstone class. In this episode, hear about the prosthetics project from chemical-engineering professor Randy S. Lewis (BS ’89) and students Anya R. Jeppsen (’24), Cody Messick (BS ’23), and Joshua S. Frei (BS ’20). This episode is based on the article “Making Strides” in the fall 2023 issue of Y Magazine.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join our host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) and assistant director of the School of Music Mark J. Ammons (BMu ’85) on an audio tour of BYU’s new Music Building. This state-of-the-art building opened in January 2023 and houses acoustically impressive performance halls, upgraded recording studios, and improved classrooms and practice spaces for daily use. From the Concert Hall to Studio Y to the Percussion Rehearsal Room, the building is designed for the needs of today’s music students. To see 360 videos and hear musical performances and rehearsals from rooms in the building, visit the article “Hitting the Right Notes” in the fall 2023 issue of Y Magazine. Special thanks to Hayley Singley Kirkland (BS ’10) for creating the musical subheads and the BYU Jazz Voices for singing in the episode. Commercial-music student Adam M.Keith (’25) ran the recording session for those subheads.This episode is based on the article “Hitting the Right Notes” by Denya I. Palmer (BA ’16) in the fall 2023 issue of Y Magazine. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a member of the displaced Karen people, BYU international-relations student Laesgaw K’Chawtee (’25) spent his early childhood in a Thailand refugee camp—about as far from Provo, Utah, as you can get. So how did he become a sophomore at Brigham Young University teaching a 300-level Karen-language course for returned missionaries? Speaking with his friend and Y Magazine intern Coleman S. Numbers (’26), K’Chawtee shares how his family’s immigration to Buffalo, New York, eventually led him to find The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and serve a mission in Kentucky, where he taught and served fellow Karen immigrants. Following his mission he came to BYU to study and would later teach the first Karen language class at the university. Tune in to find out how BYU guided K’Chawtee in his personal faith journey and helped him form a lifelong vision for serving his people. This episode is based on the article “Called for Life” by Coleman S. Numbers (’26) in the fall 2023 issue of Y Magazine. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Religious freedom isn’t just for believers,” says Elizabeth A. Clark (BA ’94, JD ’97), associate director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at BYU. “What religious freedom does is preserve a space where people can make choices.” In this episode, Whitney and Elizabeth Clark discuss religious freedom—what it really is, why it matters, and what we can do to stand up for it. They cover how religious freedom impacts international relations, communities, and individuals, and they discuss how religious freedom is vital for everyone, whether you follow a faith tradition or not. Listen to learn more and get suggestions on what you can do in your own life to support religious freedom.Check out the Annual International Law and Religion Symposium, happening Oct. 1–3, 2023. Recordings of the plenaries and breakout session will be made available after the event. This episode is based on the article “Liberty for All” in the fall 2023 issue of Y Magazine, publishing later this year. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With BYU entering the Big 12 athletic conference this season, Cougar Nation is buzzing with excitement. As the 2023 schedules are set, the challenges and advantages of being in a power-5 conference are becoming a reality. And the Cougars are getting ready to compete on a national stage. “The expectation is high,” says women’s soccer coach Jennifer Rockwood (BS ’89). “There’s pressure, we’re nervous. But you know, you want that in your program.” Listen as Rockwood, women’s cross-country coach Diljeet Taylor, and men’s basketball coach Mark Pope share what joining the Big 12 means for BYU, especially how it will broaden BYU’s national influence. “It’s going to be a bigger and better challenge for us,” says Taylor. But “[we] feel that BYU is going to bring a different level of athlete, a different level of fan, just a different feel to the Big 12. It’s really exciting.” This episode is based on the article “This is Big” by Michael R. Walker (BA ’90) in the Summer 2023 issue of Y Magazine. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the years, fitness and sports classes at BYU have gone by many names. For a while, they were part of the exercise-science department, then the course catalog listed them as STAC classes, and as of 2019, they’re known as student wellness (SWELL) classes. Through all that time, though, one thing’s stayed true: the classes are a source of fun, activity, and exploration for students. And every year, the SWELL program seeks to expand its repertoire of wellness offerings, tapping increasingly popular pursuits like pickleball and meditation.Our host Whitney Archibald spoke with SWELL course and extramural coordinator Emily Andrews as well as three SWELL instructors: Kimberly Lindstrom, who teaches weightlifting and functional fitness; Spencer Budd, who heads up gymnastics; and Maria Jensen, who teaches everything from running to yoga. Along the way Whitney picks up a plethora of personal health and wellness how-tos that apply whether you're doing Zumba for credit or exercising on your own from home. This episode is based on the article “All is Swell” by Miriam Brantley Merrill in the summer 2023 issue of Y Magazine. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feeling like you’ve whittled down your responsibilities to the absolute essentials but can’t ever shake utter exhaustion? You are not alone. Join Y Magazine podcast host Whitney Archibald as she talks to Greg McKeown (BA ’03), BYU alum and the best-selling author of Essentialism and Effortless, about his own journey through burnout to simplicity. As a young father feeling weighed down with work obligations and spending time with his family, Greg knew he needed to make a change. His subsequent soul-searching led him down a path that would form Essentialism. Now an author and public speaker, Greg helps others find their way out of discouragement. “Your family is important. Your business is important. The relationships are important,” Greg recalls telling a woman close to burnout. “But what if there’s a different way to go about it that isn’t so hard all the time?” Combining scriptural and prophetic examples as well as past experiences, Greg and Whitney discuss how to make the essentials effortless. This episode is based on the article “The Essentialist” by Denya I. Palmer (BA ’16) in the spring 2022 issue of Y Magazine. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The world is our campus,” reads the familiar BYU mantra. And epic photos captured all over the world verify this fact to grads, fans, and families. But where do these high-quality captures come from? In this episode, follow BYU photographer Jaren S. Wilkey (BA ’01) through the creative process of capturing a masterpiece photo. Wilkey talks through a recent favorite shoot, featuring linebacker Pepe M. Tanuvasa (BS ’22) smashing through a sugar glass pane, eyes fixed on the foe. Take a peek through Wilkey’s camera to view BYU backstage—what it takes to keep the photos coming and how students are mentored and trained to join the surprisingly small but highly elite photography team. Plus, get a few tips and tricks from Wilkey and BYU Photo student Donovan K. Kelly (’23) on improving your own photography. This episode of the podcast is based on the article “Breakthrough” in the Summer 2023 issue of Y Magazine. View a detailed walkthrough of the sugar glass photo process as well as a photo gallery and explanatory video on the BYU Photo website. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For L. Kala’i Ellis (BS ‘20, MS ‘22), reef conservation on the island of Molokai, Hawaii, is more than a research interest—it’s part of his heritage. His grandmother grew up on the centrally located island and was a lifelong advocate for both ecological and social reform on the island, a cause his father inherited passion for and passed along to Ellis. Ellis, who recently obtained his graduate degree in biology, was the lead student researcher in a project involving cutting-edge technology, from 3D-modeling software to aquatic and aerial drones, to learn about Molokai’s reefs and the environmental factors threatening their survival. Tune in to discover a scientific adventure reaching from the peaks of the Wasatch front to the shallows of the Molokai reef. This episode is based on the article “Mauka to Makai” by Brittany Karford Rogers (BA ’07) and Julie Harker Walker (BA ’93) in the Spring 2023 issue of Y Magazine. Check out the article online to read more, see photos of the sweeping landscape, and watch a video about the project. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For some Americans, the outcome of the 2016 presidential election meant elation and victory; for others, a dark and confusing turn in national politics. In the midst of that highly contentious moment, adrift in a sea of supercharged rhetoric and caustic online debate, one truth was clear to sisters Brittany Candrian Richman (BA ’04) and Andrea Candrian Reeve (BA ’04): “People don’t understand what it takes to make a difference in our country.” Andrea and Brittany, twin BYU journalism grads with respective careers in politics, resolved to change that. They started the American Moms, a blog and Instagram account devoted to offering tips on civil engagement and involvement in public life. In this episode, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA '01) learns about the life paths that led the sisters into politics and picks their brains about how, in an age of unparalleled division and disagreement, individuals can help to create a healthy American democracy. This episode is based on the article “American Moms” in the Spring 2023 issue of Y Magazine. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.