Learn from the people doing it

Podcaster and media entrepreneur Ben Wilson joins host John Dye for an engaging conversation about building one of the most beloved history podcasts on the internet — How to Take Over the World. From management consulting at Cicero Group in Salt Lake City to producing podcasts at lean startups to going full-time as an independent creator in 2022, Ben's journey is a masterclass in patience, focus, authenticity, and trusting the process. What began as a simple wish — "I want to hear Tim Ferriss interview Napoleon" — became a show that has earned millions of downloads, a chart-topping spot on Apple Podcasts, and public endorsements from Mr. Beast, Sam Parr, and Sahil Bloom. Topics include how a biography of Napoleon sparked a new career, the dead-simple framework for knowing whether your podcast idea is actually good, why you should go all-in on a posting schedule or abandon one entirely, the Twitter DM from Mr.

Senior Atlantic writer and bestselling author McKay Coppins joins John Dye on #MentorshipMic and a conversation with Deseret News and Church News interns about building a nationally recognized journalism career while openly living his Latter-day Saint faith. From Googling "Wall Street bars" as a Newsweek intern who had never stepped inside one, to accidentally spending two days at Mar-a-Lago with Donald Trump, to interviewing President Russell M. Nelson during a global pandemic, McKay's journey is a masterclass in curiosity, integrity, and refusing to compartmentalize who you are. Topics include breaking in at Newsweek during the "Mormon Moment," becoming the "Mormon Wikipedia" on Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign press bus, the life-changing prophetic counsel to never separate faith from career, turning down a lucrative book deal that required abandoning his beliefs, writing about religion without preaching, why empathy is journalism's greatest spiritual gift, and Mitt Romney's powerful hope that the rising generation will look around and choose to build a better country.

TIMESTAMPS

Veteran producer, director, and media executive Bill Elliott joins host John Dye for a rich conversation spanning three decades in Hollywood and faith-driven media. From a BYU photography class where he learned to "fill the frame" to a CNN internship that landed him in the Oval Office with President Reagan, Bill's early career was a crash course in storytelling under pressure. He went on to spend 23 years at NBC Universal, working behind the scenes on iconic must-see TV shows — Seinfeld, Friends, The Office, ER, Frasier, The West Wing, and more — interviewing stars like Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Carell, George Clooney, and Ron Howard.

Harlem-based rapper, educator, and youth mentor Cellus Hamilton joins host John Dye for an inspiring conversation about building a 26-year career in hip hop without compromising his faith. From getting his start as his mother's hype man at church concerts to teaching hip hop in New York City public schools, Cellus shares how music and faith have been inseparable since day one. Topics include growing up in a pioneering faith-rap family in which his mom transitioned from secular hip hop to gospel, being mentored by Atlanta artist Canton Jones, the power of hip hop as a vehicle for history and social impact, navigating industry pressure to leave faith at the door, and why the digital age means you no longer need a major city to break through. Cellus also offers candid cautions about pride, yes men, and the internal work required to sustain a career with integrity.

Two-time Emmy winner and broadcast news veteran Howard Price joins host John Dye for a sweeping conversation about a career that spans five decades — from watching the JFK assassination unfold on television at age five to anchoring newscasts, producing live coverage of 9/11, and leading crisis management for ABC News and The Walt Disney Company. Howard traces the thread of Jewish faith and spirituality through every chapter, from childhood religious education in Poughkeepsie to Middle East reporting in Gaza and the West Bank to the ethical principles that guide fair journalism. Topics include the difference between religiosity and spirituality, why interfaith understanding is a reporting superpower, the democratization of news gathering, a hilarious story about a Jewish producer and a Catholic priest on live radio in Chicago, and what today's 20-somethings need to know before they walk into their first newsroom.

Literary scout Isaac Bing Wright joins host John Dye and co-host Kalisi Loveridge for an inside look at how books, graphic novels, and podcasts become film and television. From the talent-agency mailroom to reading scripts for Amazon Studios and The Blacklist to scouting IP for major studios at CTL Scouting, Isaac traces every twist of a career built on genuine relationships, relentless reading, and quiet faith. The conversation covers what makes a story truly adaptable, how Hollywood really perceives religion, and why Isaac launched Saints and Cinephiles — a newsletter spotlighting Latter-day Saints thriving in entertainment. He also shares three pieces of advice for twenty-somethings entering the industry: network with authenticity, embrace the chaos, and study the trades before you arrive.

Los Angeles–based producer, writer, and Cortez Brothers co-founder Bernadette Rivero joins host John Dye for a wide-ranging conversation stretching from a Midwest department store's in-house ad agency to the eye of a hurricane to the heart of Hollywood. Bernadette traces a career that began at age fourteen — when a high-school English teacher rescued her from a grocery-store night shift and placed her under the wing of Edie Rosenfeld, a Holocaust kinder-transport survivor who taught her precision marketing and introduced her to Rotary International — through a writing degree at St. Mary's College, a Rotary scholarship in Mexico, and a cold call to CNN that tumbled her into broadcast journalism at CNN International, NPR, Marketplace Morning Report, and the Weather Channel, where she chased hurricanes as a one-woman band.

Three-time Emmy winner and Family Theater Productions PR & marketing director Chris Sariego joins hosts Rod Gustafson and John Dye for a rich conversation stretching from a humble cottage in Ireland to Hollywood's Sunset Strip. Chris traces the extraordinary origin story of Father Patrick Peyton — the Irish immigrant seminarian miraculously healed of tuberculosis who cold-called Bing Crosby on Christmas Day and launched a national radio empire with Hollywood's biggest stars — and explains how Family Theater continues that mission today through kids' programming, documentaries like Pray: The Story of Patrick Peyton and The Dating Project, and streaming partnerships with Hallow, EWTN, Minnow, and Formed. Along the way, Chris shares his own journey from "cradle Catholic" to a transformative illness that taught him the only thing that truly matters is giving and receiving love, his career arc from Emmy-winning PBS documentaries in Vermont to Hollywood screenwriting to nonprofit marketing, and the pivotal impact of The Passion of the Christ on the faith-film landscape.

Veteran Disney producer Brigham Taylor joins host John Dye for a candid conversation about building one of Hollywood's most impressive filmographies — Pirates of the Caribbean, The Jungle Book, Christopher Robin, Remember the Titans, Tron Legacy, Tomorrowland, and 40+ films — while letting faith shape every creative and leadership decision. From catching the movie bug in the Jaws and Star Wars era to volunteering at Sundance, rising from assistant to VP of Production at Disney, and now running an independent production company in Provo, Utah, Brigham's journey is a masterclass in staying open, leading with compassion, and letting the career find you. Topics include mentors at BYU and in Hollywood, the honest middle ground faith needs on screen, the white-knuckle story behind Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow, and essential advice every twenty-something creator needs to hear.

Content strategist and media psychology expert CJ Lindsey joins host John Dye for a candid conversation about building a career inside some of entertainment's biggest brands — DC Comics, Cartoon Network, Sesame Street, Harry Potter, and HBO Max — while openly living his faith. From hiding comic books under his bed to leading U.S. tent-pole content strategy at Warner Bros. Discovery, CJ's journey is a masterclass in authenticity, adaptability, and trusting God with the career plan. Topics include breaking in at DC's streaming service, the social responsibility of kids' content, why Gen Z is pushing entertainment back toward nuance, and three pieces of practical advice every emerging media professional needs to hear.

Award-winning digital media executive Jim Prather joins host John Dye and student representative Kalisi Loveridge for a career-spanning conversation covering 50+ years of broadcast journalism, newsroom leadership, digital strategy, and the role faith has played at every turning point. From a 500-watt AM radio station in small-town Illinois to VP of Digital Strategy at the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Jim's journey is a masterclass in adaptability, mentorship, and trusting God with the outcome. Topics include covering Bill Clinton's rise in Arkansas, leading a newsroom during the Jeffrey Dahmer arrest, brokering an exclusive statewide broadcast with the Super Bowl-winning Packers, guiding Las Vegas through the 1 October mass shooting, and practical advice for every emerging journalist.

Cara Reedy is the founder and executive director of Disabled Journalists Association, a community that provides support, training, mentorship and fellowship to Disabled journalists. She started her career at CNN over two decades ago as an anchor assistant on the morning show. During her time at CNN she produced documentaries and wrote for several verticals including, CNN Money, Entertainment and Eatocracy. After her time at CNN, Cara freelanced on NPR’s All Things Considered, where she focused on Olympic coverage. She has made two short documentaries, one with The Guardian entitled Dwarfism and Me and the other for PBS American Masters, Brad Lomax: Creating Communities of Care. After twenty plus years in NYC, she has moved back to St. Louis and is happy to be able to source toasted ravioli at will.

Hear from her as she speaks with John Dye on Mentorship Mic!

Watch a great conversation with Steven Waldman as he reflects on a recent panel discussion hosted by McKay Coppins at FORUM ON FAITH in #NYC. He also discusses other aspects of journalism and #faith and #media.

This discussion centers on the insights shared during a recent interfaith gathering in New York City. We examine the core themes from the panel discussion and why the session was considered so effective for everyone involved. If you are interested in civil discourse and the intersection of faith and public life, this dialogue offers a clear perspective on how meaningful exchanges happen in practice.

Watch this Jason Wright interview to learn about his professional journey and philosophy. Gain insights from the Mentorship Mic series speaker panel.

This discussion features a conversation with Jason Wright, providing a detailed look into his background and career perspective. Whether you are looking for guidance or simply interested in professional growth, this session offers a chance to get to know his approach to mentorship and leadership.

Hear from noted journalist Dilshad Ali in this Mentorship Mic speaker series introduction. Learn about her background and career journey today.

This session features an introduction to Dilshad Ali. If you are interested in hearing directly from established authors or seeking professional guidance, this conversation provides a clear look at her personal and professional biography.

Explore how faith and media intersect on the Faith and Media Initiative podcast. Learn how professionals integrate their beliefs.

In this episode, John Dye talks with Brandon Sawyer to discuss his career journey. We explore how he balances professional work in the media industry with his personal faith tradition. This conversation is designed for anyone interested in the intersection of creative work and spiritual life, offering a look at how faith influences the stories media professionals tell.

Mike Orren is the CEO and Publisher of LNP | LancasterOnline, PA’s 232 year-old local news operation. He has spent his entire career working to bring local news into the digital age. He has built and sold multiple companies and served in leadership roles at DallasNews Corporation and T.D. Jakes Enterprises.

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Learn how to integrate faith and media and your professional career. Doug Chamberlain shares his journey of maintaining his beliefs while working.

In this Faith & Media Emerging Leaders discussion, John Dye spoke with Doug Chamberlain to explore the practical intersection of personal conviction and occupational life. This conversation is designed for professionals looking for guidance on how to navigate the workplace while staying grounded in their spiritual values.

Joel Staley is a multilingual communications leader with more than 25 years of experience in media relations, crisis communications, and brand strategy. He has trained C‑suite executives, government leaders, and celebrities for high‑stakes interviews and founded JCS Communications in Orlando. His work spans Disney, global PR firms, and award‑winning public service campaigns. John Dye ★ discussed all of these items with Joel in this interview, and how faith has impacted Joel's career trajectory.

Learn how faith and media intersect as John Dye interviews Joel Staley about building the next generation of creators. Discover the mission behind this unique mentorship program.

Ryan Little grew up in Vancouver, Canada where he began working in the hashtag#film industry as a Production Assistant.

In 2003 he produced and directed SAINTS AND SOLDIERS which won 16 “Best Picture” awards, including two nominations at the Independent Spirit Awards.

Canadian-American filmmaker Maclain Nelson joins host John Dye for an intimate conversation stretching from early roots in filmmaking to Hallmark hits. Maclain traces his genre-spanning career as a director, writer, and producer — from the cult favorite Dudes & Dragons and the heartfelt comedy Once I Was a Beehive to producing the 2023 Sundance selection Aliens Abducted My Parents and Now I Feel Kinda Left Out starring Jacob Tremblay and Will Forte, and writing and directing multiple hit holiday films for Netflix and Hallmark including Haul Out the Holly starring Lacey Chabert and its sequel Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up, Hallmark Media's top-rated movie of 2023.