Pioneering Paradox: A podcast for conflicted saints

Melissa Mason- Cracking the Cosmic Egg Through Travel

Melissa de Leon Mason is a therapist in Cache Valley, Utah. She is a graduate of Notre Dame University. She has amassed a following of 10k people on her insta account @quilttallthethings and has spoken on the national level Melissa de Leon Mason is a therapist based in Cache Valley, Utah. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and has built a following of over 10,000 on her Instagram account @quilttallthethings [https://www.instagram.com/quilttallthethings/]. Also a proud mother of 4 wonderful kids. Fresh off a recent trip to Italy, we invited Melissa to join us for a conversation about travel through the lens of what Richard Rohr calls “the Cosmic Egg.” We explore how our personal and tribal stories are challenged when we leave home, and how travel helps us see that our individual stories are part of a much larger story, the universal human experience of being alive on this planet together. We discuss how travel allows us to expand our perspectives and absorb wisdom from many different cultures. Melissa brings her insight as a therapist to the conversation, blending personal reflection with professional wisdom. If you love travel, this is an episode for you!

Come to Italy with McArthur and Amy Watkins Jensen

As part of a roll out of our 2027 Tours we are excited to announce a tour to Southern Italy April 22-30 with McArthur Krishna and Amy Watkins Jensen. See details here: https://www.reliqtravel.com/tours/becoming

FROM CRISIS TO HARMONY w/Melanie and Casey

Many of you know that my wife Melanie and I experienced a very difficult and long faith upheaval that affected nearly every aspect of our lives. We can laugh about it now but those years of struggle were very serious and tense times for us. but they were also full of new ideas, unlearning false traditions, rebirth, and excitement. In this episode we talk about how we formed new framework and spiritual rituals that replaced some of the void and grief and helped us maintain a connection to the divine and integrate useful parts of our heritage. We both held onto a belief that moving forward in our faith journey meant letting go of blame, hate and duality and allowing more grace, gratitidue and love in. We hope you enjoy this conversation.

Staying Connected through difficult conversations w/ Christian Hansen

"Every single one of us is selling something or trying to persuade someone multiple times a day. Whether it’s convincing your kids to eat their vegetables and finish their homework, or gently steering your spouse toward Mexican food instead of Italian on date night. The truth is, the art of persuasion is one of the most important skills we can develop. When done well, it strengthens relationships. When done poorly, it can damage them. In today’s episode, we’re joined by author and speaker Christian Hansen to explore how we can master difficult but necessary conversations, build stronger connections, and stay persuasive even when we disagree. Christian is the author of three fantastic books on influence and persuasion: The Influence Mindset, The Influence Mindset for Sales Acceleration, and Unforgettable Phrases That Get People to Choose You. He brought so many practical, thoughtful, and eye-opening ideas to this conversation. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this episode! https://www.amazon.com/Influence-Mindset-Science-Getting-People-ebook/dp/B0989DFGF7 [https://www.amazon.com/Influence-Mindset-Science-Getting-People-ebook/dp/B0989DFGF7] https://www.amazon.com/Influence-Mindset-Sales-Acceleration-People-ebook/dp/B0FDH4LQ7Z [https://www.amazon.com/Influence-Mindset-Sales-Acceleration-People-ebook/dp/B0FDH4LQ7Z] https://www.thechristianhansen.com/phrasebook [https://www.thechristianhansen.com/phrasebook]

Chad Ford- The tension between social action and inner peace

Eschatology is a word I didn't know prior to this convo with Chad Ford. It deals with theology of end times and how that changes behavior . Chad makes a case that the Latter Day Saint theology dictates that we are co builders with God and we are not to just sit around and let the world collapse around us. How do we balance social ills with inner peace? What can the Latter Day Saints do with the call from President Oaks to "use the language and methods of peacemakers"? How do we help the next generation imagine a better future? These are all topics we discuss in this very important and timely episode. Thanks for listening.