Called to Create: An LDSPMA Podcast

Wendy Osborne is the Founder and Executive Director of Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry, a non-profit organization based in Utah. Wendy was called to serve her community and switched from a career in telecommunications to start Tabitha’s Way in 2010. Over the past 14 years, this organization has grown from a small food pantry to include three locations across Utah County that served over 150 thousand food-insecure individuals in 2024. Wendy’s compassion, positivity, and vision have been key drivers to Tabitha’s Way’s success as she provides constant support and innovates new ways to help those in need. Website: https://tabithasway.org/about-us/about-us-south-pantry/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-osborne-54b746150/ https://www.instagram.com/p/C3iWMGeihao/

Clint strongly believes that a single moment in time can change a person’s life. He has traveled the world speaking to a wide spectrum of diverse audiences, challenging them to dream, excel, connect, and believe--both in themselves and in the power of others. His mantra? “It’s not about being the best in the world…it's about being the best FOR the world.” Known as the leading authority on employee retention, Clint helps organizations retain, engage, and inspire their team members from the front desk to the board rooms and everyone in between. He expertly helps audiences navigate generational complexities, communication challenges, leadership missteps, and culture cues. A self-motivated entrepreneur, he is well versed in business start-up, leadership, sales management, management training, and helping teams grow multi-million-dollar accounts. He uses that experience to create teachable relationship and business strategies based on trust, service, support, connection, and consistent follow-through. https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintpulver/ https://www.instagram.com/clintpulver https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpWB8oLO5HOjstE9gmL9Qxg https://www.facebook.com/clintpulverspeaks/

Sam Payne is a national and international musician and storyteller. He hosts The Apple Seed podcast that features stories for families. He was part of the Peabody-nominated team that created Treasure Island 2020, the serial podcast based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel. As a live performer, Sam has brought his stories and songs to Canada, Bulgaria, Tokyo, and from coast to coast in the United States, including performances at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the nation's capital, the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, and the Timpanogos Storytelling festival in Lehi, Utah. Sam serves as the Weber State University Storytelling Fellow, and has written books and stage pieces, including Sanctuary: The Story of Zion for the centennial of the National Parks Service, Echoes of Hammers and Spikes (With Suzanne Christensen) for the sesquicentennial of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad, and One of a Million Stars, commemorating the 14-year mission of the Mars rover Opportunity. https://www.sampayne.com https://www.youtube.com/user/savoylive https://www.facebook.com/p/Sam-Payne-100063648694280 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-payne-82134a44

Alexis and Chanté are sisters and best friends. They grew up in Utah and raised both of their families there. Together they have seven children and two hunky husbands. They love building bridges and connecting communities. As sisters they are intentionally teaching about race, diversity and human connection in their homes! They are motivational speakers, advocates, mothers, and educators. https://www.instagram.com/letstalk_sis https://www.facebook.com/p/Lets-Talk-Sis-100064131965479

Brandon Mull is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Dragonwatch, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife, Erlyn, their eleven children, and three mischievous cats. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books. Brandon graduated from BYU in 2000 and served a two-year mission to Chile, Antofagasta for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. https://www.brandonmull.com https://www.facebook.com/authorbrandonmull https://www.instagram.com/writerbrandon https://www.twitter.com/brandonmull

For the Truman Brothers, music and faith are in their DNA. Raised in Nashville, Tennessee as sons of Latter-day Saint musician, Dan Truman (of the Grammy-winning group Diamond Rio), they spent their formative years in green rooms and tour buses as well as sacrament meetings and early-morning Seminary classes. Despite their musical upbringing, the brothers didn’t really begin making music together until attending BYU, where they won the campus-wide Battle of the Bands two years in a row. Now as recording artists signed to Shadow Mountain Records, the Truman Brothers draw on their unique background to create Spirit-filled music not just for Sundays—but for every day of the week. With its energetic, pop-driven anthems, their debut album Quiet Revolution landed in the Top 10 on the iTunes Christian chart. Their songs have earned three Praiseworthy Awards presented by the LDSPMA, including “Best Original Religious Song” for their song “Oh Child". In addition to their work as a duo, the brothers are also longtime members of the Nashville Tribute Band. https://www.trumanbrothers.com https://www.instagram.com/trumanbrothers https://www.tiktok.com/@thetrumanbrothers https://www.facebook.com/trumanbrothers https://www.youtube.com/user/trumanbrothers

Fiona Smith is British born with Jamaican roots and is a modern-day renaissance creator who focuses on projects that bring unique stories out of obscurity. Fiona was the TV host for “Road to Zion,” a documentary on early pioneers in Great Britain who immigrated to the United States. In England, she earned a Bachelor of Law Degree, and in America, graduated with a Master’s Degree in Theatre and Media Arts from Brigham Young University. Her thesis focused on Black American pioneers and included her role as Jane Manning James in the “Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration” movie. As a singer, Fiona has a cameo in The Singles Ward movie, sang alto in The Tabernacle Choir, and created a band to perform her songs at the 2002 Olympics Salt Lake Downtown Festival in Utah. Fiona also enjoys communicating in British Sign Language and German. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0808203 https://mormonarts.lib.byu.edu/works/road-to-zion-3 https://www.facebook.com/fiona.smith.9212/ www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-smith100 https://www.cedarfort.com?sca_ref=6060070.8aYtN0fp5S

Winning over live audiences has been Shupe’s natural-born talent since childhood. A fifth-generation fiddler, he started performing with his siblings at age 10. He formed the RubberBand with the idea of drawing from a pool of musicians who could wander in and out. However, certain members seemed to stick, and the band soon became a cohesive unit. Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand, took the long-running Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado by storm, winning the live band contest. This launched them into the national music scene. After becoming regional favorites, they signed a deal with Capitol Records, and cut an album in 2005 called "Dream Big." The title song became the theme song of Amy Grant's TV show, Three Wishes. Ryan Shupe’s band plays americana, bluegrass, country, folk, rock. https://www.instagram.com/theryanshupe/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClv-fdBqOShy7t88ZtuQqIg https://www.facebook.com/ryanshupemusic/

Shannon Foster is a wife, mother, and the founder of The Red Headed Hostess. She has a passion for helping children and adults understand and fall in love with the scriptures. After thirteen years of teaching seminary full-time for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Shannon had her first child and then focused her attention on helping parents teach in their home. She started a little blog called “The Red Headed Hostess,” a name her friends used to call her. The blog quickly grew and grew and now Shannon has written over 30 scripture study books and has a team of 16 dedicated creators. https://www.facebook.com/redheadedhostess https://www.instagram.com/redheadedhostess https://www.pinterest.com/rhhostess https://www.theredheadedhostess.com/fortify-podcast

Boyd Matheson is the host of KSL NewsRadio’s Inside Sources, KSL-TV’s Sunday Edition and a nationally recognized social and political commentator. Prior to joining KSL, he served as opinion editor for Deseret News, chief of staff in the United States Senate, president of a public policy think tank, and spent years as an international business strategist. Boyd and his wife Debbie have 5 children, 8 grandchildren and he is currently serving for a season as disciple-bishop of the Manila 9th Ward. https://www.linkedin.com/in/boydmatheson/ https://muckrack.com/boyd-matheson/articles https://twitter.com/boydmatheson

In 2001, at the age of 27, Chad’s life changed in an instant when a 2,000-pound bale of hay shattered his neck, leaving him a quadriplegic. But Chad’s dreams were not paralyzed that day—he became an example of what is possible. Chad is a best-selling author, president of his own communications company, and recognized world-class wheelchair athlete. In 2003, he set a world record by wheeling his chair from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas (513 miles). Chad inspires, motivates, and moves audiences, creating an experience that touches hearts for a lifetime. He is one of the youngest ever to receive the Council of Peers Award for Excellence (CPAE) and to be inducted into the prestigious National Speaker Hall of Fame. https://www.instagram.com/chadlhymas https://www.facebook.com/chadlhymas https://twitter.com/chadlhymas https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadhyma

Alice Faulkner Burch is general editor of “My Lord, He Calls Me: Stories of Faith by Black American Latter-day Saints.” She also serves on the Utah State Historical Records Advisory Board, is on the Signature Books Editorial Advisory Board, and is the Director of Special Events on the Executive Committee of Sema Hadithi African American Heritage & Culture Foundation, (Utah’s only 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the researching, preserving, and teaching of Utah’s Black American history founded by her husband). She enjoys writing, cross-stitching, and doing the dying art of whole-cloth quilting – a skill she learned on her own to honor her maternal Grandmother. Deseret Book deseretbook.com/product/P6001723.html Amazon amazon.com/My-Lord-He-Calls-Latter-day/dp/1639930299 Sema Hadithi African American Heritage & Culture Foundation https://semahadithifoundation.org

Dr. Stacy Taniguchi is a motivational speaker and experiential education consultant. He is a retired university professor from BYU's Marriott School of Business and works as an outdoor wilderness guide, specializing in remote adventures in Alaska and international mountaineering. Dr. Taniguchi is also an expert witness for tort liability cases involving outdoor recreational risk management and product liability and an advocate for the "Choose to THRIVE" movement. He co-founded Beta Experiences which helps people on their journey to living a life of thriving. Dr. Taniguchi’s BETA Experience website https://www.betaexp.com [PDF] What 100 things do you want to do with your life? https://intermountainhealthcare.org/-/media/files/services/eap/etips/what-100-things-do-you-want-to-do-with-your-life.pdf?la=en LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacytaniguchi Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kahiltna.visions

Jeanette Bennett earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in journalism from BYU and is the founder/editor of Utah Valley Magazine, BusinessQ Magazine, Utah Valley Bride and UtahValley360.com. She has also been a regular guest on HuffPostLive and has moderated gubernatorial debates and numerous business panels. Jeanette plays the piano and organ, but her feet did the talking when she took third place in “Dancing with the Community Stars.” Jeanette has a love/hate relationship with deadlines, half marathons and the stock market — and she has a love/love relationship with glossy pages, watching her kids play sports and enjoying Utah’s canyons. Website https://jeanettebennett.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jeanettewbennett LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanettebennett

Jared and Marcie Austin are owner creators of Latter Day Kids! They have worked together for the last 4 years as a husband and wife team to deliver free weekly videos and lesson bundles that support gospel learning in the home. Jared earned a Bachelor's Degree in Art Education, and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. He is an art teacher by trade and worked as a public school teacher until he resigned in 2021 in order to focus on producing content for “Latter Day Kids.” Marcie spends her days homeschooling, loving on her children, and doing her best to fit creative endeavors in between it all. She does graphic design and photography work for Latter Day Kids, and is a freelance graphic designer. Jared and Marcie have been married for 17 years, and are the proud parents of 5 beautiful children who are the true inspiration behind Latter Day Kids and the talented voice actors behind all of the Latter Day Kids videos! Website https://www.latterdaykids.com Instagram @latterdaykids https://www.instagram.com/latterdaykids Facebook Latter Day Kids https://www.facebook.com/latterdaykids YouTube @LatterDayKids https://www.youtube.com/@LatterDayKids Pinterest @latterdaykids https://www.pinterest.com/latterdaykids

Summerisa is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a BFA in Music Dance Theatre and a Minor in Ballroom Dance. She and her husband moved to NYC and performed professionally as actors for seven years, working with many of the top directors and choreographers in the business. Summerisa was awarded Best Actress in a Musical by Broadway World for her portrayal of Doralee in the production 9 to 5. While living in NYC, they also owned and operated their own performing arts training studio in Manhattan. In 2017, Summerisa helped found and currently works full-time as President of the nonprofit organization Harrington Center for the Arts located in American Fork. The nonprofit began with the vision of her father and local doctor, the late Dr. Carl Bell. Harrington Center for the Arts will renovate the historic Harrington School building to become a home for the arts in the local community as well as constructing a new Studio Theater. Website https://www.summerisa.com Instagram: @summerisa https://www.instagram.com/summerisa Facebook: summerisa.stevens https://www.facebook.com/summerisa.stevens YouTube: @summerisabellstevens7328 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjGyKUeHd89ZEH8WdZRciw

Brooke Walker is the host and executive producer of KSL’s “Studio 5 with Brooke Walker.” She is an Emmy award-winning journalist and a member of the KSL News Team, where she contributes as an anchor and reporter. Brooke is also the host and executive producer of “Family Rules” on BYUtv and BYU Radio. Brooke’s most important and cherished titles are wife and mother. She and her husband are the proud parents of four children. Facebook www.facebook.com/BrookeWalkerKSL X (Twitter) www.twitter.com/BrookeWalkerKSL Instagram www.instagram.com/brookewalker LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-walker-12039a31

Reyna Aburto was born in Nicaragua and studied Industrial Engineering there. She holds a degree in Computer Science from Utah Valley University and has worked in the language industry for more than 30 years. Reyna and her husband own a translation business. She has served as Relief Society General Presidency Second Counselor and as a member of the Primary General Board for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She currently serves on the Correlation Committee in Church Headquarters. She is the author of Reaching for the Savior (Acudamos al Salvador, in Spanish), and co-host of the Consecrating Your Life podcast (@consecratingpod) with her daughter Elena. Deseret Book https://deseretbook.com/p/reaching-for-the-savior Instagram: @consecratingpod Facebook: Consecrating Your Life Podcast

Bonnie Oscarson, a native of Utah, has lived in eight states and one foreign country. She and her husband served as Mission President and Companion in the Sweden Gothenburg Mission in the 1970s. Thirty years later they returned to Sweden as Temple President and Matron for the Stockholm temple. Bonnie wrote a book in 2015, What Makes Us Sisters, urging women to encourage and inspire others in ways that help them realize their great potential. She and Paul have seven children and 29 fascinating grandchildren. Bonnie served as the Young Women General President of the Church from 2013 until 2018. Deseret Book https://deseretbook.com/products?query=bonnie%20oscars

Tarsha Joyner’s most cherished roles are that of wife, mother, grandmother, creator, and Latter-day Saint. She also owns and is head Treatmaker at Mrs. Joy’s Absolutely Fabulous Treats. She created and built her business based on a project she worked on in her graphic design classes at University of Lynchburg. At 41 years old, wanted to open a bakery but didn’t know how to bake. But she was determined to learn and went on to become the winner of the Food Nework’s Christmas Cookie Challenge in 2015. Tarsha wrote and illustrated A Quilt for Josie Joy for her senior thesis at University of Lynchburg in Virginia and has made all the quilts in the book. Website https://mrsjoys.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missusjoy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissusJoy