Y Magazine

Do Utahns Talk Funny? Research on Pronunciation, Usage, and Naming Trends Oct 17, 2024

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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Life and Breath: BYU Students Improve Public Health in Nepal Oct 03, 2024

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.

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Building Bridges: How to Enrich Interfaith Relationships Sep 19, 2024

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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Write It Down: Advice from the New Deseret News Editor on Recording Your Life Sep 05, 2024

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.”

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Refugee Soccer: Finding Belonging Through Sport Aug 22, 2024

In 2010, BYU alum Adam C. Miles (BA ’92) started a non-profit organization to help reunite refugee families who were resettling in the United States from Africa. Over the years, he realized more needed to be done to help refugees find belonging in the US.

His solution? Soccer.

in 2016 Adam Miles launched Refugee Soccer, with the three-fold mission of play, equip, and compete—raising money for refugee kids to join local teams, collecting used gear to make sure the kids have the equipment they need to play, and helping them travel to competitions.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) talks with Miles about how soccer creates connections for refugees in a unique way.

This episode is based on the article “Goals for Refugee Girls” written by Julia K. Nebeker (’24) that appears in the summer 2024 issue of Y Magazine.

Check out another episode on alumni service: “Saving Days, Ending Period Poverty with Days for Girls.”

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How to Be a Planetary Explorer—Right Here on Earth Aug 08, 2024

45690Janiradebaugh is a minor planet nestled in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. But Jani Radebaugh is also a professor of geology at BYU. Radebaugh’s research in planetary exploration and involvement with the Dragonfly mission have earned her a place among the stars.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) talks with Jani Radebaugh (BS ’93, MS ’99) about how we can be planetary explorers here on Earth.

This episode is based on the article “The Little Planet” written by Jedidiah A. Flores (’26) that appears in the summer 2024 issue of Y Magazine.

Read more about Jani Radebaugh: "Between Heaven and Earth.”

Check out other episodes on exploration: “The Curious Life of Byron Adams: How a BYU Biologist Turned ADHD into His Superpower” and “An American Journey: What a BYU Grad Discovered on a 500-Day Walk Across the United States.”

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Fast Friends: Olympians Conner Mantz and Clayton Young Jul 18, 2024

Olympians Clayton A. Young (BS ’19, MS ’22) and Conner B. Mantz (BS ’22) are competitors—but they’re also close friends. Both BYU alumni will be running the Olympic marathon on Aug. 10, but they’ve been keeping stride with each other for years.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) talks with Young and Mantz about the 2024 Paris Olympics, their friendship, the competition, and their faith.

This episode is based on the article “Fast Feats” written by R. Jeffrey Call (BA ’94) that will appear in the summer 2024 issue of Y Magazine.

Listen to or read the BYU Devotional “Wrestling With Comparisons“ by J.B. Haws.

Check out another episode on exercise and wellness: “Lifelong Wellness.”

More on beauty and mundanity: “Artful Parenting: How to Make Creativity Part of Your Family Culture.”

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Artful Parenting: How to Make Creativity Part of Your Family Culture Jul 04, 2024

For Paige Crosland Anderson (BFA ’11), art is not only a profession but a way to connect with her family and her divine identity. As the mother of four daughters, Anderson often creates her art with the help of her children—though their help can sometimes be an obstacle.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) talks with Anderson about how her abstract approach to understanding the atonement of Jesus Christ and our divine creativity weaves itself through her art.

This episode is based on an article that will appear in the summer 2024 issue of Y Magazine.

See Anderson’s “Again, Glorified” triptych.

Check out other episodes about family life: Making Peace: How to Mediate Conflict in Our Families and How to Be a Good Citizen with the American Moms.

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In Good Company: Students Build Real Businesses in Two Semesters Jun 20, 2024

Could you build a company over the course of two semesters?

BYU students have the opportunity to try through a new program: Sandbox. This 18-credit class motivates students to turn their ideas into real tech startups that solve problems for people from various industries, from therapists and dentists to river guides and Dungeons and Dragons fans.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) talks with Sandbox director Christopher B. Crittenden (BS ’06, MAcc ’07) and student Pearl Hulbert (BS ’24) about how Sandbox is turning students into builders and creators.

This episode is based in the article “Incubating Ideas,” written by Josh Rust (BA ’24), which appeared in the spring 2024 issue of Y Magazine.

Check out other episodes about student innovation: Students Engineer Prosthetic Solution for Ecuador and Mapping Molokai.

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Saving Days: Ending Period Poverty with Days for Girls May 23, 2024

When Celeste Humphrey Mergens (’81) found out that girls in Kenya were trying to manage their periods with pieces of cardboard, she immediately began looking for solutions. She discovered that girls and women all around the world were missing weeks out of every year due to period poverty.

Mergens’s solution? A nonprofit called Days for Girls.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, host Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) talks with Mergens and current Days for Girls CEO Tiffany Niland Larson (BA ’02) about how the nonprofit is working to end period poverty, advocate for menstrual health, and reach every girl. Everywhere. Period.

This episode is based in the article “Reclaiming Days for Girls,” written Andrew T. Bay (BA ’91, MA ’94), which appeared in the spring 2024 issue of Y Magazine.

Check out another episode about humanitarian outreach: Students Engineer Prosthetic Solution for Ecuador.

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Gospel on the Go: Three BYU Podcasts to Enrich Your Study May 09, 2024

Casting about for a great podcast to enrich your gospel study? Look no further. Podcasts are a great way to tune into spiritually enriching stories, devotionals, and research wherever you are.

In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, Whitney Singley Archibald (BA ’01) talks with three different podcast producers from across BYU campus about their podcasts—BYU Speeches, Y Religion Podcast, and the Maxwell Institute Podcast. Whitney delves into the rich tapestry of faith-based content offered by these podcasts and where listeners might want to start.

These three are just a few of the dozens of podcasts on campus. Check out other great BYU podcasts below.

This episode is based in the article “Find Your BYU Podcast,” written Brooklyn Hughes Roemer (BA ’22), which appeared in the spring 2022 issue of Y Magazine.

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

Episodes mentioned in this podcast:

BYU Speeches: Miracles

BYU Speeches: Raising the World to a Higher Plane of Mortality

BYU Speeches: What Will You Make Room for in Your Wagon?

BYU Speeches: The Tree, the Fruit, and the Building

Y Religion: Jacob and Mental Health

Maxwell Institute: How Does God Grieve?

Other Podcasts on BYU Campus:

BYU Sports Nation

BYU Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Football, and Baseball

Behind the Mic

Her Y

BYU Football with Kalani Sitake

Cougar Tailgate

Deep Blue

In Good Faith

Scripture Conversations (BYU Religious Education)

BYU Studies (BYU Studies)

Come Follow Up

Constant Wonder

Top of Mind with Julie Rose

The Lisa Show

Seek Learning (BYU Education Society)

Faith and Imagination (BYU Humanities Center)

Moral and Ethical Leadership (BYU Management Society)

Writing Westward (BYU Redd Center)

The International Cinema Podcast

Y Life Science (Bean Life Science Museum)

The Apple Seed

Kaboom

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An American Journey: What a BYU Grad Discovered on a 500-Day Walk Across the United States Apr 19, 2024

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.

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Making Peace: How to Mediate Conflict in Our Families Apr 04, 2024

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.

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Going Forth—It’s What We Do: How BYU Grads Are Making a Difference Mar 21, 2024

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.

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The Curious Life of Byron Adams: How a BYU Biologist Turned ADHD into His Superpower Mar 07, 2024

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.

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Not Your Grandma’s Family History: How BYU’s Record Linking Lab Is Building the Family Tree Feb 15, 2024

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.

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Loneliness and Social Connection with Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad Feb 01, 2024

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.

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True Blue BYU Friendship Jan 18, 2024

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.

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10 Tips from BYU Religion Professors to Deepen Your Book of Mormon Study Jan 04, 2024

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 Belnap
Articles 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.
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Spiritual Lessons and a 30-Foot Fall Dec 21, 2023

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.

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Going Forth to Teach Dec 07, 2023

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.
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Students Engineer Prosthetic Solutions for Ecuador Nov 16, 2023

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.
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Take a Tour of BYU’s New Music Building Oct 31, 2023

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.

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From Refugee to Student to Teacher Oct 05, 2023

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.

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Religious Freedom with Elizabeth Clark Sep 21, 2023

“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.

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BYU Joins the Big 12 Sep 07, 2023

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.

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Lifelong Wellness Aug 03, 2023

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.

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Essentially and Simply with Greg McKeown Jul 20, 2023

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.

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BYU Photo and the Art of Mentorship Jul 06, 2023

“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.

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Mapping Molokai Jun 15, 2023

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.

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How to Be a Good Citizen with the American Moms Jun 01, 2023

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.

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Writing and Teaching with ChatGPT May 18, 2023

“Oh, hello there, Y Magazine podcast listeners! Are you ready to dive into the thrilling world of AI and writing? Well, buckle up, because today's episode explores the ever-growing influence of ChatGPT and other cutting-edge AI models on the realm of writing and writing instruction.

“Join us as we chat with Meredith Reed, a writing instructor at BYU who's been keeping a close eye on the AI invasion. Will the fusion of human creativity and machine learning lead to a brave new world of literary innovation, or is it simply another step towards obsolescence? Grab your favorite writing tools, and let's find out together in this stimulating conversation that's equal parts fascinating and unnerving!”

That was ChatGPT's first try at writing this episode's shownotes. What do you think? Tune in to learn about how artificial intelligence is changing writing and classroom learning—along with everything else.
This episode is based on the article “I, Chatbot” written by Sara Smith Atwood in the Spring 2023 issue of Y Magazine.

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A Chat with President C. Shane Reese May 04, 2023

What’s the probability that the 14th president of Brigham Young University would love faculty basketball and family pickleball, turned down a job with the Philadelphia Eagles, and prefers a PB&J over most other foods? Probably zero, if you asked C. Shane Reese (BS ’94, MS ’95), a statistician by trade and the successor of President Kevin J Worthen (BS ’79, JD ’82).

But for Reese, his story is notable for other reasons—like the series of personal spiritual impressions that led him to switch his major to statistics his freshman year, he and his wife’s decision to leave a “dream existence” in New Mexico to come to Provo, and their passing on a job offer from Andy W. Reid (BS ’82), then head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Y Magazine sat down with Reese to discuss these experiences as well as other parts of his life—diving into his time at BYU, his interests in the field of statistics, and his family. Tune in to learn more about Shane Reese—father, husband, statistics professor, sports nerd, and the new president of BYU.

Read more about President Reese in the Summer 2023 issue of Y Magazine, coming July 2023.

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BYU Pioneers in Chaplaincy Apr 20, 2023

When Dawn Dimick (’23) decided to join the army, she had several career choices ahead of her. Through it all she felt prompted in one direction: to become a military chaplain. Dimick is now the first female military chaplaincy student at BYU, and she will be among the first endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In this episode, learn what exactly chaplains do (beyond your knowledge of Father Mulcahy in the TV show M*A*S*H) and how the field of chaplaincy is growing at BYU.

Hear about Dimick’s journey and meet two others helping pioneer the field of chaplaincy for Latter-day Saint women: Delacie Barney (BA ’94, MA ’19), BYU’s first-ever healthcare chaplain grad, and Tamara Fitzgerald Harris (’79), chaplain services manager for the Church.

This episode of podcast is based on the article “Called to Service” by Denya I. Palmer (BA ’16) in the Winter 2023 issue of Y Magazine: https://magazine.byu.edu/article/called-to-service/.

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Cake By Courtney: Baking, Business, and Faith Apr 06, 2023

Chocolate cheesecake cake with an Oreo crust and cream cheese filling? Biscoff strawberry cake with a strawberry jelly buttercream? If those descriptions make your mouth water—or make you want to google a recipe—join us to hear from Courtney Carlston Rich (BA ’05), creator of the Cake by Courtney blog, culinary teacher, entrepreneur, mom, and BYU grad.

Courtney shares her journey from studying broadcast journalism to becoming a food blogger: she recounts the first cake she ever made, the spiritual impressions she received pursuing this unlikely passion, and how baking cakes has changed her life and the lives of those who love her recipes.

Get recipes for Courtney’s chocolate cheesecake cake and Biscoff strawberry cake in the article “Rich Recipes” from the Winter 2023 issue of Y Magazine.

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Happiness 101 Mar 08, 2023

How do we find happiness? The question is just about the oldest one out there, and we haven’t stopped asking it.

In this inaugural episode, hear from four BYU professors across campus who tackle the question of happiness. They offer diverse insights rooted in disciplines from experience design to comparative literature. Central to all their findings: the more we try to chase happiness, the less likely we are to find it. True life satisfaction doesn’t come from pursuing a sense of pleasure or comfort or even joy—instead, the experts all agree, we need to do our best to build habits and relationships that make life worthwhile.

Each professor will dive into how they’ve integrated these ideas into courses they teach at BYU—then they offer all of us some positive well-being homework. These activities, as well as some recommended reading, are included below.

This episode of the podcast is based on the article, “Let Joy Find You” by Emily Smurthwaite Edmonds (BA ’01, MA ’04) in the Winter 2023 issue of Y Magazine.

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