Everything Creative explores creativity through interviews with artists and creative people of all types. Many episodes are unique in that the interviewee from a previous episode becomes the interviewer of another creative artist.

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Everything Creative

Dr. Mark Henderson—Weber State University

Join us for a special one-hour beginning episode, featuring Dr. Mark Henderson, a professor of music at Weber State University.  Dr. Henderson teaches a course on creativity.  He shares insights on the topic and discusses its spiritual nature.

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Craig Miner—Musician

Dr. Mark Henderson of Weber State University discusses music and the creative process with musician Craig Miner.  Throughout their discussion Craig plays several of his musical arrangements.

Entrepreneurs

Discussion 1: Entrepreneurs—Nancy Hanson talks with three creative entrepreneurs—Emily Hedrick, Vaughn Armstrong, and Bry Cox. This group discusses how the talents and interests that God has inspired them with have provided multiple opportunities to use their creativity, giving them a chance to spend their time doing something they enjoy that uplifts them and others.

Composers

Ryan Tilby interviews music producer Scott Wiley and composer Sam Cardon. Wiley describes how he started out recording bands in his basement while working several internships before becoming a music producer. He explains how he harnesses others' creativity to help them create honest music. He explains how he uses faith to balance his time working as a producer with Church callings as a Scout leader and as a bishopric member. Sam Cardon, a jazz artist and score writer for film and TV, describes the work he has done for various programs. He describes some of his favorite projects, including a seminary video of Christ visiting the Nephite children and some personal compositions. He shares how the influence of the Spirit inspires the art of his music.

Tony Martin

Country music songwriter Tony Martin has written songs that have been recorded and released by artists such as George Strait, Tanya Tucker and Tim McGraw. He discusses getting started as a songwriter and the "ins and outs" of the songwriting business.

Photography

Ryan Tilby interviews wildlife photographer Lynn Chamberlain and portrait photographer Jed Wells. Lynn takes Ryan on a routine early morning outing to Zion National Park to photograph bighorn sheep. Along the way they discuss Chamberlain’s beginnings and his love for both the outdoors and photography. He talks about the differences between creating and documenting God’s creations. He also shares his beliefs about the use of creativity on our path to become like God and create our own worlds. Jed Wells is interviewed prior to a photo/video shoot of a live concert. He shares his interests in both still photography and motion pictures. He describes how his portraits can bring out personality and tell a story. He discusses how he maintains his own voice and moral values in his work, as well as putting his family first. He explains the direct and vitally important connection between our creative lives and spiritual lives.

Curtis Miner—Architect

Musician Craig Miner interviews his brother Curtis Miner, who runs an architecture business in Pleasant Grove, Utah. In this episode they discuss how concepts, ideals, and principles are communicated through buildings and their design. Additionally they touch on such topics as the gift of creativity, its rewarding process, and the source of all good—which is God.

Teachers

Discussion 2: Teachers—Nancy Hanson talks with four creative teachers—Karston Longhurst, Susie Sommerkorn, Jennifer Call, and Kristel Goff. During this discussion, the teachers describe why they love to teach and how it’s helped them share their creativity to influence many youth for good.

Dan Truman

Dan Truman, most known for his keyboard and piano playing for country band Diamond Rio, joins host Nancy Hanson in Nashville, Tennessee, for Everything Creative. Dan attended BYU and served his mission in Florida. Then he moved to Tennessee to pursue music in Opryland. He strives to live his LDS morals and shares how he has been lucky to be surrounded by others who help him to do so.

Lynde Mott—Artist

Architect Curtis Miner interviews artist Lynde Mott.  Created from the perspective of women, Lynde’s art is an expression of her love for Church history and focuses on women and children. Examples of her artwork can be seen online by visiting AltusFineArt.com. Among other things, Curtis Miner and Lynde Mott  discuss her background, the similarities between architecture and painting, the meaning communicated through art, and the interesting similarities between what we can create here on earth and God’s creations.

Young Women Leaders

Discussion 3: Young Women Leaders—Nancy Hanson talks with five inspired Young Women leaders—Ridi Kocani, Tiffany Price, Rachelle Rhodes, Heather Rampton, and Mindy Hawkins. These leaders come from Albania, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and New York and discuss the creative ideas that have worked in their areas to overcome challenges and find success. They talk about different activities that have created great memories and strengthened many testimonies, preparing the young women for the future.

Drew and Lacey Williams

Husband and wife music duo Drew and Lacey Williams join host Nancy Hanson in Nashville, Tennessee, to talk about their experiences in the bluegrass/country music industry. They met, married, and decided to make a life together playing music as a team. They found that they can choose to live the "music life" to the degree that they would like. Not participating in uncomfortable situations, they have still found success in being able to always have a gig on their schedule.

Artists

In this special documentary episode of Everything Creative, host Ryan Tilby speaks with painter Cassandra Barney and people artist Brian Kershisnik. Cassandra talks about her youth, her father being an avid painter, and her travels to various museums and cultures. Although she initially had no interest in painting, she later found inspiration through her education at art college. As an artist, she notes how embracing flaws and shaping them into something greater is crucial to having art eventually communicate and serve a higher purpose.  Brian Kershisnik discusses how he shifted his focus from architecture to painting in his young adulthood. The pursuits and problems of people are regular topics in his paintings, and they are meant not to be a source of conclusion, but of conversation. Social encounters are imperative to his works, as well as making sense of this life and the next. He later notes how others can find answers only after they ask serious questions.

Children's Book Writing

In this documentary of Everything Creative, guest host Ryan Tilby speaks with Mark and Caralyn Buehner on writing and illustrating children’s books. Mark illustrates the books and Caralyn writes them. The couple originally started off with nothing and traveled to Brooklyn to start a new life. They initially got by on some work for the Ensign magazine and eventually found their stride together in telling stories for children. Their work started getting attention, and they have published multiple books since. The couple discusses how you can stand up for what you believe through storytelling and how to create a safe world for children and their books. Ultimately, if we find joy and happiness in our work, the beauty of the art comes through.

Young Men Leaders

Discussion 4: Young Men Leaders—Nancy Hanson talks with five inspired Young Men leaders—Jim Coltrin, Daniel Poulson, Matthew Durrazani, Flint Mensah, and Adam Worsham. These leaders come from all over the world (Denmark, Italy, California, Utah, and Ghana) to discuss what the Young Men program is like in their area.

Jason Deere

Nashville musician Jason Deere tells his story about working in the music industry. Specifically he talks about being the producer for the music group SHeDAISY (consisting of LDS women) and the inspiration behind his album Joseph Smith: A Nashville Tribute to the Prophet. Jason also sings and plays his guitar during the interview.

Kerry Muhlstein interviewed by Lynde Mott

Artist Lynde Mott interviews professor and Egyptologist Kerry Muhlstein, who is a professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University. He discusses how creativity is used in his profession and how being worthy of the Spirit can augment our creativity.

Stained Glass

Guest host Ryan Tilby interviews Tom Holdman of Holdman Studios about his work with stained glass. His creative designs in glass now hang in all 50 states and in many countries around the world. His work encompasses projects for commercial buildings, residences, public art projects, temples, and other religious institutions.

Michael Hinckley

Host Nancy Hanson interviews guitarist and songwriter Michael Hinckley. Michael tells about what brought him to Nashville and plays some of his music as part of the interview.

Mark Madsen—NBA Player

Egyptologist Kerry Muhlstein interviews Mark Madsen, NBA player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mark played basketball at and graduated from Stanford with a degree in economics. He discusses his introduction to basketball, the use of creativity in the game, the importance of believing in yourself, and what it’s like being a Mormon in his occupation.  Mark actively interacts with fans through social media; for more information visit MarkMadsen.com.

Designers

Discussion 5: Designers—Nancy Hanson talks with BYU professors Rick West, Peter Rich, and Geoff Wright and with graduate students Anne Makin, Shawn Cates, and Daniel Randall about the study of creativity. They identify factors that can increase innovation, such as collaboration, diversity of experience and expertise, willingness to adapt, and constant learning. Another key to creativity is asking "What if?" In a hands-on experiment, the panel analyzes the design of water bottles. Creativity in Church service is also discussed.

Performers - Jon Schmidt and Justin Cash

Although different in musical genre and style, musicians and songwriters Justin Cash and Jon Schmidt speak about the same passion for music in this documentary episode of Everything Creative. They each share what it is like to be a musician, including the balancing act between making a living and following their talents.

Mothers

Discussion 6: Mothers—Nancy Hanson talks with four mothers who represent a variety of ages, experiences, and financial resources: Heidi Udall, Britney Wood, Debbie Loock, and Cindy Edwards. They discuss creative parenting ideas such as bike rides, searching for bugs, games, role playing, family prayer, talks during drives, service projects, meals together, family home evenings, holidays, and Sabbath day observance. They also mention Church resources they find helpful.

Robin Pedersen—Professional Organizer

NBA player Mark Madsen interviews professional organizer Robin Pedersen. She is the mother of six children and has been an organizer since her youth. She discusses how she came to this profession and how organizing is a fulfilling and creative outlet.

Doug and Kaylianne Lowe

Doug and Kaylianne Lowe grew up performing around the world with their parents and five other siblings. Now Doug and Kayli are also stepping out on their own to write and perform songs together. Their song "Billboard Girl" (co-written with Garin Brett) recently won the grand prize for the NSAI songwriting contest. Also, Kayli's song "Let Me Cry" won the people's choice award. The songs are heard as part of the episode. While finding success, the Lowes strive to keep their standards and share how they feel about attending church and staying close to the Lord amidst a busy touring schedule.

Redhead Express

Redhead Express (Kendra, LaRae, Alisa, and Meghan Walker) all join host Nancy Hanson to share their music, which they deem a "homegrown blend of contemporary country, old-fashioned bluegrass and Americana." They talk about touring together as a family and holding their standards high as LDS youth working in the music industry.

Interpreter - Oscar Underwood

Interpreting takes a lot of concentration, skill, and quick thinking! One interpreter, Oscar Underwood, has been involved with interpreting for many years. In this documentary episode of Everything Creative, he talks with guest host Ryan Tilby about the ins and outs of this skill.

Joyce Erickson—Mother and Author

Professional organizer Robin Pedersen interviews mother and author Joyce Erickson. She is the mother of six children, three of whom are severely handicapped and two who have passed on. She talks about how her life has been blessed with her children. Through them she has learned how to use her creativity to tell their story, hoping to help people understand how life’s experiences are part of the gospel plan.

Writers

Discussion 7: Writers—Nancy Hanson talks with four creative writers who have produced works ranging from music to children's books: Kimberley Heuston, Sue Peterson, Marsh Morford, and Catherine Cook. They agree that it takes faith to begin writing, courage to make mistakes, and work to keep at it. They discuss the benefits of dabbling in different forms and genres, writing for the sake of doing it, separating writing from editing, keeping notes and journals, and having people read what you write. Other topics include handling rejection and seeking help from the Lord.

Singles

Discussion 8: Singles—Nancy Hanson talks with single members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ciro Abril, Jason Smith, James Dalton, Brooke Holyoak, and Emily Snyder come from different walks of life, but all share common experiences when it comes to planning activities for ward family home evenings, activities, and dates.

Glen Leonard interviewed by Joyce Erickson

Mother and author Joyce Erickson interviews author Glen Leonard. He was the director of the Church History Museum and has written several books. He shares some of his work and how the Spirit's influence helps him to explore who he really is.

Firefighters

Discussion 9: Firefighters—Nancy Hanson talks with firefighters from Salt Lake City Fire Station #5.  David Dixon, William Oliver, Anthony Burton, Vincent Martinez, James McNeill, David Fry, Chris Burk, Darrin Whitaker, and John Maddox discuss how they are creative under pressure.

Frank Magleby—Landscape Painter and Muralist

Author Glen Leonard interviews Frank Magleby, who was the muralist artist for the Nauvoo Temple. Frank began to recognize his natural talent for creating visual things in elementary school when his teachers let him paint the walls and build his own furniture. Through an airline contest in college, he won a trip to New York and received exposure to the professional art world. It was there he decided art would be his profession. Now 82 years old, he continues to use his creative mind to paint inspired pieces.

Luthiers

Guest host Ryan Tilby interviews luthiers Joel Nowland and Adam Day. Joel creates guitars and Adam creates violins. They discuss spiritual aspects of creativity in their craft and how the Spirit has helped them do their work.

Jed Foutz—Trading Post Owner

Landscape painter and muralist Frank Magleby interviews Trading Post owner Jed Foutz. He shares how his family began a trading business that developed a unified relationship between people of different cultures. He tells how his family recognized the beauty and creativity in Native American art and created a way to market their work. For about 25 years now he has been running the business and creating a way for artists to continue their work. He feels that his creativity comes in the eyes he has been blessed with to see beautiful work.

Astronaut

Discussion 10: Astronaut—Nancy Hanson talks with astronaut Don Lind and his wife, Kathleen, about his unexpected career as a pilot and astronaut.  Don shares the thoughts and feelings he had as he rocketed away from the earth and into weightlessness. He felt God’s creativity as he looked back at the beautiful earth from the darkness of space.

UVU Race Car Team

Guest host Ryan Tilby interviews UVU professor of automotive technology, Todd Lowe, about the UVU race car team. Todd is a racer and says he has "salt fever." He takes his students to the Bonneville Salt Flats to race the cars that they have learned how to build and maintain at optimal performance.

Bobsledders

Discussion 11: Bobsledders—Nancy Hanson chats with Jeremy Holm and Don Osmond as they put into plain words their adventures in the sport of bobsledding. They share how the occurrence of throwing themselves down an icy track in a steel sled at 80-plus mph creates opportunities for them to have spiritual experiences both on and off the track. They each express how bobsledding has not only brought them closer to God and increased their testimonies in the gospel, but how it has also helped make them into better individuals.

Rich Sutton—ASL Translator

Trading Post owner Jed Foutz interviews American Sign Language translator Rich Sutton. Brother Sutton was born to deaf parents, and signing was his first language. He refused to speak until he was about two and a half years old. He now manages all the sign language translations for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Minnie-Mae Wilding Diaz

Rich Sutton, an American Sign Language translator for the Church, interviews Minnie-Mae Wilding Diaz about her work as the translator for the ASL translation of the Book of Mormon.  They discuss specific challenges and blessings that came with the assignment.  Minnie-Mae also shares stories about her childhood and about her family now.  Life is different for a deaf family and a family in which all can hear, but we are all the same!

Pearl Wilding

Pearl Wilding, a grandmother three times over, talks to her niece, Minnie-Mae, about some of the amazing things that have happened in Pearl’s life.  She shares her memories of when going places was done in horse-drawn carriages and tells of attending Ricks College.  In 1935, Pearl postponed marriage to serve a mission in the Central States and years later, at the age of 79, Pearl decided to serve the Lord again.  She continues to be an inspiring missionary as she serves in the Family History Library today.  With so many people who have been influential in her life, Pearl expresses her love for God and for the people who she serves.

Composer/Arranger

Discussion 13: Composer/Arranger—Merrill Jensen joins Nancy Hanson in the studio to discuss his work as a musician. He has composed film scores for over 30 films, including Emma Smith: My Story; Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration; and Legacy. Brother Jensen has also composed for many television commercials, outdoor pageants, albums, and concert productions.

Website Creators

Discussion 14: Website Creators—Doug and Laurel Hatch discuss their website, MormonsMadeSimple.com. They both served full-time missions, and after returning they tried doing missionary work using a creative video genre and a lighthearted, fun, informative approach. Living in Northern California during the Proposition 8 debate in that state, Doug heard Elder Ballard urge Latter-day Saints to get involved with online media. The first video—drawn with markers and scanned into the Hatches' computer—eventually reached half a million views online, becoming the most-viewed video on the proposed law.

Ronda Coombs

Creativity is often learned in a creative home!  Especially when a home may be far away from any movie theatre or other entertainment, creativity takes on a new meaning!  From gift-giving ideas to car maintenance, Ronda Coombs learned from her parents to be innovative while growing up on a farm.  Ronda shares her gratitude for a knowledgeable father and mother who taught self-sufficiency.  Her experiences and trials also strengthened her character.  She shares a strong desire to find fulfillment in creative daily activities such as gardening.  Ronda bears her testimony about the gospel, life, and happiness.  This interview conveys the sweet love between a mother and daughter. Ninety-four-year-old Pearl Wilding, Ronda’s mother, conducts the interview.

Pipe Organ Technician

Discussion 15: Pipe Organ Technician—Robert Poll takes care of the pipe organs at Church headquarters. There are eight pipe organs total: one in the Conference Center, one in the Tabernacle, one in the Assembly Hall, one in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building chapel, three practice organs in the basement of the Assembly Hall, and a portable organ called a portative. He also cares for two harpsichords and four electronic organs.

Dancers

Discussion 16: Dancers—Members of the BYU dance company Kinnect join host Nancy Hanson in the studio to discuss their work. Kinnect began in 2002 as a way for dancers to interact with younger students at local schools.

Temple Square Christmas

Discussion 17: Temple Square Christmas—Eldon Cannon is group manager of Ground Services on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. Brother Cannon joins Nancy Hanson in the studio to discuss gardening, landscaping, lighting, and other aspects of his work on the grounds of Church headquarters.

Musicians

Discussion 18: Musicians—Three LDS musicians (Sam Payne, Peter Breinholt, and Ryan Shupe) join Nancy Hanson in the studio to talk about the creative process of songwriting. Sam Payne traces his interest in music to his father, a folk musician who sold his records door-to-door. Peter Breinholt says that he had put away the dream of becoming a musician after learning about so many musicians with dysfunctional lives. Only after serving a mission did he eventually realize how to achieve his dream without sacrificing important things like family life. Ryan Shupe is the fifth generation of fiddlers in his family.

Preserving Memories

Discussion 19: Preserving Memories—Nancy Hanson talks with Deanna Lambson, Marcy Balfe, Jan Thomson, and Robyn Hanson about the value of preserving memories through scrapbooking, journaling, and home movies and how these activities create a generational connection for family members and ancestors to benefit from.  Each woman shares her passion and testimony for saving memories, expressing individual ideas and stories of how she captures special moments of family life, from simple scrapbooking to creating home movies and digital slideshows.

Skiing/Snowboarding

Nancy Hanson talks with skiers Brooke Harris, Faroe Decker Robinson, Bruce Decker, and Jay Marquiss and snowboarders Cameron Robins and Joe England (by phone).  They discuss differences between the two sports and how either can be a great way to have fun and enjoy nature.  The group compares notes in their learning, experiencing, and instructing.   They also discuss technique, equipment, locations, knowing your limits, and the cultures that surround the sports. All ages can learn, and it can be a family activity!

Manufacturing

How were day-to-day objects such as paper clips created?  What if we woke up one day and all metal objects around us were gone?  Manufacturing is a field full of creativity and pervades human history! Chris Reeve, a metallurgical engineer, joins Nancy Hanson by phone from Nashville, Tennessee. He explains what a metallurgist is.  They also talk about the manufacturing process, which begins with an idea, and receives a blueprint.  Then each piece of the physical object being created is assembled.  Many specialists must come together as a team to create a final product.  Taking raw materials and making something that did not exist before has brought Chris closer to the Spirit, and his testimony had been strengthened. The  Holy Ghost can inspire mankind to create and develop new technologies and useful products!

Sculpting

Everyone has hidden talents yet to discover! Angela Johnson, a soprano opera singer, felt one day that she should buy some art supplies.  To her surprise, a few hours later there was a sculpture of a little girl sitting on her kitchen table.  She did not know that she had this talent but was willing to try.  Now, Angela Johnson’s sculpting work has been on exhibit at the Newport Beach Temple Open House, the Museum of Church History and Art, and the Mesa Arizona Temple Visitors’ Center. The "Healing Power of Jesus Christ" exhibit was at the Mesa visitors’ center for nearly 6 months and will continue public exhibition at other visitors’ centers in the United States for the next several years. Hear Angela's incredible story on this episode of Everything Creative.

Scouting

In the world of Scouting there is much to be explored!  From Cub Scout to Eagle Scout, a Boy Scout can experience everything creative, earning merit badges and going on adventures.  Curtis Goble (5-year Scoutmaster), Ken Evans (86, Scoutmaster), Donald Bean (Director of Finances for the Great Salt Lake Council), Annette Miner (Assistant Cub Scout Round Table Commissioner), Bronson Miner (13, Boy Scout), and Ryan Miner (9, Cub Scout) participate in a motivating discussion about creative Scouting.  Although advancing in rank is encouraged, the goal of the Scouting program is to instill in the youth the values of the Scout Oath and Law.  Learn about how the Scouting program works, creative ways that Scouts and leaders work together, and fun ideas for obtaining your Eagle Scout rank!

Pioneer Creativity

The pioneers were very creative!  Clive and Bonnie Romney, dressed in pioneer clothes, joined Nancy Hanson in studio to discuss various ways that the Mormon pioneers exercised their creativity in agriculture, music, and recreation.  Clive shares a song that he wrote about his grandfather and plays his banjo in studio.  As a musician’s wife, Bonnie has learned to be very creative with the family resources.  She shares tips and tricks. The dynamic couple also demonstrate their re-creations of toys that pioneer children played with (see photos at radio.lds.org). Clive and Bonnie are heavily involved in efforts to help anyone who is interested to learn more about the pioneers.  Learning about the hardships our ancestors endured, as well as the uplifting moments, helps us become closer in spirit to our heritage.

David Nielson, Managing Director of the Church Audiovisual Department

How does the Church create media to spread the gospel?  From old filmstrips to modern-day YouTube videos and everything in between, the Audiovisual Department has been engaged in a great work!  As the managing director of the Church Audiovisual Department, David Nielson faces many challenges each day.  He talks with Nancy Hanson about the various media initiatives the Church employs to spread the message of the gospel.  He also shares the steps and processes that such initiatives must go through.  The talents of the many come together as one team to create compelling media.

Pioneer Short Stories

In this episode of Everything Creative, Nancy Hanson speaks with the five winners of the 2010 Pioneer Day Short Story Contest.  They come from all over the country but each share in the pioneer heritage spirit.  Hear why they wrote about what they did, and the story itself.

Clean Comedy

Comedy can also be clean?  Absolutely!  Radio guests Keith Stubbs and Ryan Hamilton are both LDS comedians who find their job of "keeping it clean" both hard and rewarding.

Nonprofit Groups

Nonprofit entities have to engage much creative thinking when it comes to business start-up and survival.  Also, there are so many creative ways in which we can serve our fellowmen.  This episode’s experienced group consists of Professor Rodayne Esmay (UVU professor over the Digital Namibian Archive Project), Dustin Goldman for The Give Initiative, Brad Carmack for Jail Outreach, Thomas Alvord for CollaborActive, Paul Bascom for TippingBucket.org, and Lyman Gifford (by phone) for Boy Scouts of America. Nancy Hanson hosts the episode as the group shares their ideas, challenges, and triumphs.

Creative Quilters

Renee Bloomquist, Jamie Moser, and Kathy Young find peace and enjoyment in the art of quilting.  From family-history quilts requiring a lot of research to quilts with no pattern that are put together with random shapes of fabric, the process can be “therapeutic.” The guests share tips and tricks that inspire.  Modern quilting has changed a lot since the days of the pioneers, but the meaning has remained the same.  The personal touch of the creator adds spiritual meaning that enriches all those around them.  Hear their passion for quilting and for life through their love of colors, shapes, and patterns which give the freedom to create!

Mormon Mommy Bloggers

How best can you build your blog, keep it interesting, and share testimony?  Renowned LDS mommy bloggers (Elisa Sharton, Teresa Collins, Julia McDonald, Courtney Kendrick, and Caroline Bingham) come together for an insightful discussion on the ever-so-popular topic of blogging!  Hear how their success has taught them how to be genuine and sensitive in their content.  Also, learn tips and tricks for keeping your personal information safe and much more!  Listen to this episode of Everything Creative as these five LDS mommy bloggers share their experiences to benefit others.

Robert Marshall - Temple Murals

Nancy Hanson talks with muralist and teacher Robert Marshall as he shares stories of his life as an artist.  With more than 40 years of experience, Marshall’s artwork has been shown in numerous exhibitions and two LDS temples in the United States.  He shares how each painting goes through an evolution as he places brush to canvas and hopes that his paintings can provide some sort of relief for people as they try to find respite from the world.  Hear the whole story in this episode of Everything Creative.

Corn Mazes

One day in college, Brett Herbst had an idea that everyone around him thought was absurd.  He pursued the idea and eventually it grew into the art of creating corn mazes!   Kamille Combs believed in the idea and decided to join in the project and get the word out.  Host Nancy Hanson interviews Brett and Kamille about their tag-team story.  Learn how a maze is cut from corn and what goes on during their creative process.

Alex Boye

Alex Boye joins host Nancy Hanson to share his creative energy and passion for music!  As an award-winning artist, Alex seeks to promote music for good.  He tells his story of how he decided to pursue the religious and spiritual music genres. The episode features his solo “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” that he sang with the Tabernacle Choir.

Archery - Jones Family

Nancy Hanson talks with Chris Jones and his family about their many adventures in archery.  From reading book after book on Native American bow making, Chris gained interest and skill in the subject.  It began in college when he had the desire to make a bow and arrow just like Nephi.  Now, the hobby has turned into a full-fledged family experience. The Jones family finds a unique pleasure in making the bows and arrows, swords, and toy guns – all from wood – even a catapult.  He shares how the experience of creating a bow from scratch and pulling the string back to fire off an arrow has a Zen-like feel that keeps his passion for archery going.

The Lopez Family

The Lopez Family comes together to talk with Nancy Hanson about their musical talents. The family sings together and has performed as a group on various occasions.  Linda (mother) shares how her children seemed to exhibit their talents at an early age. The guests share their background and the story of their success and service.  Rebecca Lopez (daughter) released a CD that celebrates her Latin heritage and growing up in Mexico City.  Nancy invites her guests to sing in the Mormon Channel studio! Listen to this episode to hear them sing “Cuatro Vidas” together as a family.

Cake Decorating

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to have a successful bakery?   Laurlee Morrison, a professional cake creator and designer, went from being a software engineer to having her own bakery.  She talks with Nancy Hanson about the ins and outs of having a small business, including the choices that must be made  - such as closing the business on Sunday. She read one day in a book that "you should pick one thing and do it well." She chose to focus on cakes and desserts! This talent has become her passion and livelihood. Laurlee’s courage to try something new has brightened hearts on many occasions through creating cakes, chocolates, and cupcakes!

Author - Dean Hughes

Author Dean Hughes became a serious writer after taking a creative writing class in high school, and he has pursued the talent ever since.  Nancy Hanson interviews Dean about his work, which includes the Children of the Promise and Hearts of the Children series.  Find out what motivated Dean to pursue being a writer and how his hard work and dedication has yielded over 95 books!

Creative Fathers

Nancy Hanson speaks with Mark Allen, Christian Jones, Lance Shurtleff, and Brian Merrill – four fathers and friends who show the traits and qualities of good men.  Through the discussion, these four fathers express their faith and love for those men who came before and were examples to them.  They share their joys and challenges of being exemplary fathers and role models for their families and others.  As they share their insights of being a father, they communicate the need for all fathers to follow the examples of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and to take the time to be there for their children.

Animation

David Dibble, Jake Parker, Moroni Taylor (via phone), Ryan Woodward, and Tyler Carter come together to discuss their work in animation and graphic design.

The 5 Browns - Desirae, Deondra, Gregory, Melody, and Ryan

The family piano quintet The 5 Browns (Desirae, Deondra, Gregory, Melody, and Ryan) come together in the Mormon Channel studio with host Nancy Hanson to discuss their musical story.  They were the first family of five siblings to ever be accepted simultaneously to New York’s Juilliard School.  It all started with piano lessons at a young age (to keep 10 little hands busy), a shared piano, and a lot of hours of dedicated practice! Their shared creative talent and strong love for music has brought them together as a family in a very special way. Hear their strategies for staying in sync with each other while playing and how they infuse their passion for life into their musical performances.

Creative Ways to Show Your Love

Three "Dating Divas" (Kiirsten Jeppson, Wendy Jackman, and Kristen Raleigh) talk with Nancy Hanson about creative dating ideas. They discuss the importance of showing your love often to a spouse and family members, in creative, fun ways.

The Orchestra at Temple Square

The Orchestra at Temple Square administrative manager Barry Anderson, Ed Thompson (who assists Barry), and members of the orchestra join host Nancy Hanson in the Mormon Channel studio. They discuss their love for sharing their testimony through music each week as they support the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  The guest musicians come from various backgrounds and include Bonnie Schroeder (principle oboist), Cami Jackson (violinist), Jeff Scott (tubist), and Mollie Shutt (bassoonist).

Marvin Goldstein and Vanessa Joy

Host Nancy Hanson talks with pianist Marvin Goldstein and vocalist Vanessa Joy about their work. The two guests discuss music and how it is designed to inspire and uplift us, as well as teach us how to love and be happy. When we apply ourselves to our work, creativity flows and we can accomplish great things.

Composer, Conductor, and Producer - Rob Gardner

Composer, Conductor, and Producer Rob Gardner, joins Nancy Hanson in the Mormon Channel studio to discuss Rob's exciting music creations!  Rob graduated with a BS in Business from BYU and is co-founder and president of Spire Music, a nonprofit organization dedicated to producing concerts and superior music recordings of a sacred and inspiring nature. Listen to this episode to hear Rob share a sample of his work called "Gloria," from Lamb of God.

LDS Cartoonists - Brian Crane, Jon Clark, and Arie Van De Graff

LDS cartoonists and comic strip writers join host Nancy Hanson in the Mormon Channel studio to talk about their humorous art.  They discuss how daily life isn’t always easy and how humor can lighten your troubles.  We can identify with characters created by others that help us not take ourselves too seriously.  The show’s guests point out that because we have the most joyous message in the world, it would only make sense that we celebrate through art that makes us smile.  Guests include Brian Crane (the creator of Pickles), Jon Clark (via telephone), and Arie Van De Graff.

Creative Service - Brian and Dawn Anne Gill, Lisa Paulsen, and Geoff Nelson

Helping people is easy and fun! Nancy Hanson talks with creative people about fun ways to serve. Guests include Brian and Dawn Anne Gill, who take their children on humanitarian trips; Lisa Paulsen, who has been the recipient of much service; and Geoff Nelson, who began the “101 Happy People Project” after finding a 100 dollar bill on the ground one day.

Filmmaker and Novelist - Kieth Merrill

Filmmaker and novelist Kieth Merrill comes to the Mormon Channel studio to share insight into his special creations. Working in the film industry since 1967 and as a partner in the company that originally created IMAX films, he has been heavily involved as writer, director, and producer for such films as The Great American Cowboy, Mr. Krueger’s Christmas, Amazon (IMAX), Grand Canyon (IMAX), and many more! Kieth also directed Legacy for the theater at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.  He tells listeners about his creative process and introduces us to his latest creation.

Professional Quilting

Four professional quilters (Liz Hawkins, Gina Halladay, Annie Smith, and Beth Hawkins) continue our discussion about quilting in this episode of Everything Creative. They discuss their passion for quilting and how they have made it a business.

Church Sculptor Torleif S. Knaphus - Discussion 50

Expert Allen P. Gerritsen and his mother, Marie Knaphus James, talk about his grandfather and her father, sculptor Torleif Knaphus. Among his many sculptures are the Angel Moroni Monument at the Hill Cumorah and Handcart Pioneers on Temple Square.

The Vinyard Website

Creators and users of the Church's new Vineyard website come together to talk about its benefits. Guests include Brad Baker (HR); Joseph Jatip (HR); Paul Urzagaste (user); Jennifer Goodman (user); and Don, Kari, and Robert Nay (users). Service opportunities are discussed, even for those who may have only five minutes at a time to serve. Nancy Hanson, host.

Janice Kapp Perry

Janice Kapp Perry is our special guest for this episode of Everything Creative. She shares stories about how her music service began with helping those around her. The music spread to other wards and stakes and eventually was published in songbooks such as the Children's Songbook and even our LDS hymnal.

Musician - Meaghan Smith

Musician Meaghan Smith and her husband, Jason Mingo, join host Nancy Hanson in studio to share their story and talents. Meaghan is a singer-songwriter who recently won the Canadian Juno Award for Best New Artist. She talks about her creative process and her music style that she calls "modern vintage." Jason shares his conversion story and his love for various music styles. The discussion includes studio performances of two of Meaghan's songs, "I Know" and "Poor."

Presenter and Author - Connie Sokol

Presenter and author Connie Sokol shares with listeners her passion for being "faithful, fit, and fabulous" in this episode of Everything Creative. She encourages everyone to find their own unique stamp of creativity. She shares eight steps to getting our lives in order and not feeling overwhelmed by life tasks.

Creative Food - Erica Walker and Karen Peterson

Food-blog owner Erica Walker and crock-pot specialist Karen Peterson join host Nancy Hanson in studio to share tips and tricks about preparing food. They each enjoy cooking and share their passion with listeners.

Create.lds.org

Church employees Scott Olson, Marianne Jennings, Ashton Smith, and Anthony Park talk with host Nancy Hanson about a new Church website, create.lds.org, that they helped develop. They explain the various ways that listeners can contribute their creativity by submitting their photos, videos, and music to the Church through this site.

Storyteller - Donald Davis

International storyteller Donald Davis joins host Nancy Hanson in studio to share his story … of storytelling!  The cultural tradition has been passed down from generation to generation to teach important principles from historical events—and also for fun!  Mr. Davis teaches us how we can be good storytellers, and also good teachers.

Joseph Lartey - Dromo Pan African Dance Ensemble

Guest host Rick Starr interviews Joseph A. Lartey, executive director of the Dromo Pan African Dance Ensemble in Ghana. Joseph tells the story of his conversion and also his participation in this creative group. He shares the gospel with fellow group members, and now many of them come to church. He also bears his testimony that he belongs to the only true Church.

Thurl Bailey - Former NBA Player

Former professional basketball player turned singer and speaker, Thurl Bailey, joins Nancy Hanson in the Mormon Channel studio to talk about his life story. He shares his thoughts about growing up, playing professional basketball in Utah and abroad, joining the Church, and never giving up.

LDS entrepreneurs Matt Hein and Gaylen Rust are up for the challenges that being their own boss creates. Guest host Ryan Tilby interviews both of them separately to get their story. Their faith keeps them working hard, and both men are grateful for the blessings that they have been given.