WARD RADIO

Cardon Ellis, Hayden Holm, and Tanner dive deep into the kind of comedy and cultural expectations that surround men in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), and why so many young men (and elders) feel alienated, bored, or misunderstood.The episode kicks off with Hayden Holm sharing a “cringe” church-adjacent comedy video (“Laughing All the Way”), which they all agree is emblematic of a deeper problem (and not an official church production): church humor is safe, predictable, and above all, risk-averse. The group discusses how this lack of authenticity and edge in humor makes it almost impossible to engage young men who are looking for something genuine, risky, and relatable.

In this episode, Cardon Ellis hosts Hayden Holm in a lively and insightful discussion about the 1991 movie “Hook,” starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman. The central theme of the conversation is how “Hook” contains powerful, “hidden lessons” for fathers—especially within the context of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but also relevant to any father or leader of young men.

Hayden Holm lays out a creative framework for fatherhood, inspired by three main duties Peter Pan must relearn in the film: how to fly, fight, and crow.

This episode dives deep into what Bart Marcos describes as a “crisis of missing Moroni” within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints—a metaphor for the declining willingness among members to stand up and actively defend personal liberty, faith, and foundational values. Drawing inspiration from Captain Moroni, a Book of Mormon figure renowned for his courageous leadership and resolve, Bart Marcos laments that too many church members now shrink from any perceived conflict, opting for comfort, consensus, and “niceness” rather than righteous confrontation or advocacy.

Cardon Ellis, Hayden Holm, and Tanner dive into the complex topic of how church culture’s “nice guy” approach is inadvertently driving men—especially young men—away from feeling connected and invigorated in their faith communities. The conversation is sparked by a church-adjacent comedy clip, which the hosts quickly describe as “cringe,” “safe,” and lacking any risk or genuine unpredictability—the ingredients that make humor truly meaningful and magnetic.

Christian and Travis, from the "Holy Rebellion" Instagram page confront Cardon Ellis, host of Ward Radio, on "internet peacemaking" and how it relates to 2026 apologetics. This was a great conversation.... we hope you enjoy it!