Deseret Voices

Why the Smiths are Betting Big on Utah Sports

Why are the owners of a multibillion-dollar tech empire doubling down on live sports in an age of AI and digital isolation? In this episode of “Deseret Voices [https://pages.deseret.com/podcasts/deseret-voices],” host McKay Coppins [https://www.deseret.com/authors/mckay-coppins/] sits down with Ryan and Ashley Smith, owners of the Utah Jazz and the new Utah Mammoth, to explore why they believe the stadium is one of the last remaining places where a community can truly breathe, cheer, and connect as one. Ashley describes the "electric," high-stakes atmosphere of a live hockey game where strangers connect through shared moments to bypass the "lonely life" of the digital age. Meanwhile, Ryan reflects on their 20-year transition from the tech world to sports ownership, emphasizing their unique role as stewards keeping these franchises grounded on behalf of the state of Utah. The Smiths also pull back the curtain on the business, grit and strategic complexities of running professional sports franchises. Ryan provides a candid look at the "means to an end" philosophy required to survive the emotional volatility of wins and losses. Together, they discuss the distinct, team-first culture of the NHL compared to the NBA, the evolving nature of athlete health, and changing league rules. Hear the fascinating story of the "way to get in front of the puck" mentality that defines hockey culture, and how that very spirit of sacrifice is influencing their approach to the Utah Jazz. Finally, the conversation tackles the tough questions regarding the NBA regular season and the strategic necessity of "laying up" during a team rebuild. The episode concludes with a look ahead at the 2026 NBA draft, with Ryan expressing full confidence in his front office to ignore the outside noise, draft for greatness, and make the bold, sometimes unpopular moves necessary to pursue a championship. Turn off your screens, step inside the arena, and find out why the Smiths are betting big on the vital power of the shared civic experience. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience during “The Atlantic Across America” series in Salt Lake City on May 11, a joint event from the Deseret News and The Atlantic magazine.  “Deseret Voices [https://pages.deseret.com/podcasts/deseret-voices]” is hosted by award-winning journalists McKay Coppins [https://www.deseret.com/authors/mckay-coppins/] and Jane Clayson Johnson [https://www.deseret.com/authors/jane-clayson-johnson/], who go beyond the headlines to explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping our world today. Through thoughtful, in-depth conversations, the “Deseret Voices” podcast brings clarity and common ground to the complex issues defining our time.    “Deseret Voices” is a Deseret News [https://www.deseret.com/] podcast, produced by Keira Farrimond, Creative Director - Video & Podcasts.    Episodes of “Deseret Voices” drop every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. Follow along and join the conversation on YouTube (@deseretnews [https://www.youtube.com/@DeseretNews]), Instagram (@deseretnews [https://www.instagram.com/deseretnews/]), Facebook (@deseretnews [https://www.facebook.com/deseretnews]) and X (@deseret [https://x.com/Deseret]).

The Salt Lake Temple: Opening its Doors to the World

For the first time in over 130 years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng] is preparing to open the doors of the Salt Lake Temple [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/salt-lake-temple] to the public following a massive, multi-year renovation [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/feature/templesquare/temple-square-construction-updates?lang=eng].  On this episode of "Deseret Voices [https://pages.deseret.com/podcasts/deseret-voices]," McKay Coppins [https://www.deseret.com/authors/mckay-coppins/] sits down with project director Andy Kirby and church historian Matt Grow to discuss the dual mission [https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/salt-lake-temple-interior-renovation-harmonizing-sacred-past-future] of this monumental undertaking: preserving 19th-century pioneer craftsmanship while implementing 21st-century engineering [https://www.deseret.com/faith/2025/07/01/salt-lake-temple-back-on-feet-milestone-footings-seismic/].  The Salt Lake Temple has defined the Salt Lake City skyline since 1893. For years now [https://www.deseret.com/faith/2025/08/03/salt-lake-temple-renovation-timeline/], the temple has been a hive of construction, surrounded by cranes and scaffolding as it undergoes its most significant renovation in history [https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/02/04/salt-lake-temple-renovation-manager-takes-listeners-inside-renovation-project/]. But the project is about more than just replacing old plumbing and reinforcing granite walls against an earthquake. Kirby and Grow explain how church leadership used this opportunity to enhance and expand the use and message of Temple Square.  They discuss how church historians navigated the delicate balance [https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/salt-lake-temple-interior-renovation-harmonizing-sacred-past-future] between honoring the pioneer past while welcoming a global future, how the now re-opened visitors’ center [https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/04/13/new-temple-square-immersive-visitors-center-to-open-salt-lake-temple/] is making sacred spaces more transparent to visitors and the engineering required to ensure this iconic building stands for another hundred years. “Deseret Voices [https://pages.deseret.com/podcasts/deseret-voices]” is hosted by award-winning journalists McKay Coppins [https://www.deseret.com/authors/mckay-coppins/] and Jane Clayson Johnson [https://www.deseret.com/authors/jane-clayson-johnson/], who go beyond the headlines to explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping our world today. Through thoughtful, in-depth conversations, the “Deseret Voices” podcast brings clarity and common ground to the complex issues defining our time.  “Deseret Voices” is a Deseret News [https://www.deseret.com/] podcast, produced by Keira Farrimond, Creative Director - Video & Podcasts.  Episodes of “Deseret Voices” drop every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. Follow along and join the conversation on YouTube (@deseretnews [https://www.youtube.com/@DeseretNews]), Instagram (@deseretnews [https://www.instagram.com/deseretnews/]), Facebook (@deseretnews [https://www.facebook.com/deseretnews]) and X (@deseret [https://x.com/Deseret]).

Literacy, Democracy, and the Art of the Thriller

On this episode of "Deseret Voices [https://pages.deseret.com/podcasts/deseret-voices]," host Jane Clayson Johnson [https://www.deseret.com/authors/jane-clayson-johnson/] sits down with No. 1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci [https://www.davidbaldacci.com/] to discuss his latest thrillers, “Nash Falls [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/david-baldacci/nash-falls/9781538757987/]” and “Hope Rises [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/david-baldacci/hope-rises/9781538758021/].” Baldacci reflects on his childhood in segregated Richmond, Virginia, explaining how early access to the public library became his "body armor" against bigotry. Beyond the craft of writing 60 novels, he delves into his passionate advocacy for literacy and the launch of the Institute for Civil Discourse [https://baldacci.vcu.edu/], a nonpartisan effort to rebuild the "muscles" of citizenship in a fractured democracy. Baldacci argues that literacy is not just about enjoying a good book — it is a fundamental requirement for thinking, empathy, and the survival of a self-governing society.

From Party Chair to Party Critic: Why he’s still a Republican

On this episode of "Deseret Voices [https://pages.deseret.com/podcasts/deseret-voices]," host McKay Coppins [https://www.deseret.com/authors/mckay-coppins/] explores the political evolution of MS NOW's Michael Steele [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-michael-steele-podcast/id1412905534], former chairman of the Republican National Committee [https://www.rnc.org/] (RNC). Steele traces his journey from a "Lincoln Republican" raised by Roosevelt Democrats to becoming one of the most prominent critics of the modern GOP.  Michael Steele offers [https://michaelsteelenetwork.com/about/] a candid look at his upbringing in segregated Washington, D.C., and explains how Ronald Reagan’s 1976 convention speech — a message of grace and self-reliance — originally anchored his faith in the party. The conversation delves into the "fictional" iconography of 1950s America often used in modern political messaging and provides an insider's view of how the Tea Party movement transformed from a fiscal uprising into a populist precursor to the current era.  Steele argues that while many of his peers have abandoned long-held principles for political convenience, he remains in the party to fight for its original moorings of civil liberty and constitutional self-governance. It is a compelling discussion on character, the "monetization of anger," and what it means to be a Republican when you no longer recognize the party’s leadership.  “Deseret Voices [https://pages.deseret.com/podcasts/deseret-voices]” is hosted by award-winning journalists McKay Coppins [https://www.deseret.com/authors/mckay-coppins/] and Jane Clayson Johnson [https://www.deseret.com/authors/jane-clayson-johnson/], who go beyond the headlines to explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping our world today. Through thoughtful, in-depth conversations, the “Deseret Voices” podcast brings clarity and common ground to the complex issues defining our time.  “Deseret Voices” is a Deseret News [https://www.deseret.com/] podcast, produced by Keira Farrimond, Creative Director - Video & Podcasts.  Episodes of “Deseret Voices” drop every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. Follow along and join the conversation on YouTube (@deseretnews [https://www.youtube.com/@DeseretNews]), Instagram (@deseretnews [https://www.instagram.com/deseretnews/]), Facebook (@deseretnews [https://www.facebook.com/deseretnews]) and X (@deseret [https://x.com/Deseret]).

Utah’s “Mother Teresa”: Her Final Wish for Christian Collaboration

On this episode of "Deseret Voices [https://pages.deseret.com/podcasts/deseret-voices]," Jane Clayson Johnson gathers an extraordinary panel of faith and policy leaders at the request of Pamela Atkinson [https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/03/29/pamela-atkinson-dying-wish-what-would-jesus-do-faith-leader-roundtable/] — a woman often called "Utah’s Mother Teresa [https://www.deseret.com/utah/2025/03/22/pamela-atkinson-utah-mother-teresa-advocate-homeless-poor/]." Though Pamela was hospitalized just before the recording, her "final God-given assignment" brought together a diverse group of Christian leaders — Latter-day Saint, Catholic, Presbyterian and Baptist — to discuss a 130-year-old question: What would Jesus do? [https://www.amazon.com/His-Steps-Charles-M-Sheldon/dp/1453832866] The conversation moves beyond theology into the grit of community service, exploring how faith groups can set aside competition to collaborate on homelessness, child welfare, and poverty. From "living out loud" in Kearns to "matchmaking" volunteers with nonprofits, the panel discusses the intentionality required to build trust across religious and political divides. ---------------------------------------- KEY DISCUSSION POINTS: * The Power of the Question: How a century-old book by Charles Sheldon still compels modern leaders to move from "hearing the word" to "doing the word," even when it creates personal sacrifice or political discomfort. * The "Pamela Factor": Reflections on how Pamela Atkinson’s "forced friendships" and lack of regard for titles have literally changed the state [https://governor.utah.gov/governors-staff/pamela-atkinson/] of Utah’s approach to the vulnerable. * Systems vs. Motivation: A look at the unique partnership between government (which provides systems) and faith communities (which provide meaning and personal motivation). * Combating Burnout: Practical tips for congregants who feel overwhelmed by the world's heaviness by focusing on "small acts done consistently" — like keeping water and socks in your car. * Interfaith Unity: Why standing up for another person’s faith, especially during times of global conflict, is the ultimate "trick" to creating lasting community bonds. ---------------------------------------- FEATURED GUESTS: * Jane Clayson Johnson (JCJ) – Host and Journalist * Abby Cox [https://firstlady.utah.gov/] (AC) – First Lady of Utah * Sharon Eubank [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/sharon-eubank?lang=eng] (SE) – Humanitarian Director, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints * Bishop W. Christopher Waddell [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/w-christopher-waddell?lang=eng] (B.CW) – Presiding Bishop, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints * Pastor Jamie White [https://www.fpcslc.org/staff] (R. JW) – First Presbyterian Church * Pastor Corey Hodges [https://thepointslc.com/about/] (P.CH) – The Point Church * Michael Edwards [https://dioslc.org/people/michael-edwards] (ME) – Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City * Sophia DiCaro [https://governor.utah.gov/governors-cabinet/sophia-dicaro/] (SD) – Executive Director, Utah Governor's Office of Planning and Budget ---------------------------------------- “Deseret Voices [https://pages.deseret.com/podcasts/deseret-voices]” is hosted by award-winning journalists McKay Coppins [https://www.deseret.com/authors/mckay-coppins/] and Jane Clayson Johnson [https://www.deseret.com/authors/jane-clayson-johnson/], who go beyond the headlines to explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping our world today. Through thoughtful, in-depth conversations, the “Deseret Voices” podcast brings clarity and common ground to the complex issues defining our time.  “Deseret Voices” is a Deseret News [https://www.deseret.com/] podcast, produced by Keira Farrimond, Creative Director - Video & Podcasts. Episodes of “Deseret Voices” drop every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. Follow along and join the conversation on YouTube (@deseretnews [https://www.youtube.com/@DeseretNews]), Instagram (@deseretnews [https://www.instagram.com/deseretnews/]), Facebook (@deseretnews [https://www.facebook.com/deseretnews]) and X (@deseret [https://x.com/Deseret]).