The Good Book Club Podcast

The Good Book Club

A podcast series for Post and Nuanced Mormons from The Good Book Club including discussions on the monthly book and discussions from The Lazy Learner series where guests address specific topics of interest to post and nuanced mormons.

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20 episodes
Updated July 12

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Episodes20

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July 12 · 1 hr 45 min
The Founding Fathers and the Debate over Religion in Revolutionary America
The Good Book Club are joined by the wonderful Matthew Harris to discuss his book "The Founding Fathers and the Debate over Religion in Revolutionary America" co-authored with Thomas S. Kidd.) Our discussion explores whether America was built as a secular republic or a Christian nation. Matt's book shows the Founders' beliefs varied widely. Some were skeptics like Thomas Paine, while others were traditional Christians like Patrick Henry. Despite these differences, most rallied around core religious principles such as: Human Equality: The belief that people were created equal.Religious Liberty: The separation of church and state, requiring the disestablishment of state-backed religions. And Public Virtue: The necessity of strong moral character for a republic to survive. This is a fascinating and timely discussion as Matt shares many stories and insights into the founding of America and what the lens of Mormonism does to the narrative.
June 14 · 1 hr 28 min
TGBC: The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements
In this The Good Book Club episode we dive into the psychology of fanaticism with Eric Hoffer's 1951 classic, The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements. This highly influential book explores the common denominator behind religious, social, and political fanaticisms, offering a timeless look at why ordinary people are drawn to extreme mass movements. Key themes we discussed included: The Appeal of Mass Movements: Hoffer argues that mass movements offer an escape from a broken or burdensome individual self, providing a sense of purpose and community.The Mindset of the Fanatic: Explores why frustration, a lack of self-worth, and a desire for unity drive individuals to embrace rigid belief systems.The Role of the Leader: We discussed how charismatic figures and propagandists harness the energy of the dissatisfied to mobilize movements.Interchangeability of Movements: We analyzed Hoffer’s controversial claim that religious, nationalist, and radical political movements are fundamentally similar in structure and psychology.This The Good Book Club Meeting was originally held on June 14, 2026.
May 17 · 1 hr 38 min
Mythos and Cosmos: Mind and Meaning in the Oral Age
Mythos and Cosmos: Mind and Meaning in the Oral Age by Dr. John Knight Lundwall is a groundbreaking exploration of ancient mythology, recasting myths as a highly rational and complex oral cosmology. It offers a fascinating, eye-opening look at how pre-literate peoples perceived and interacted with the universe. Key Highlights from the Book Myth as an Imprinting Press: It defines myth not as mere fiction, but as a robust method of information transmission for oral cultures. Reimagining the Universe: Reveals that ancient oral cosmology was vastly more complex than the "flat-earth" models often assumed. Ancient Wonders in a New Light: Offers fresh perspectives on myth cycles like the Epic of Gilgamesh, megalithic structures like Stonehenge, and the roots of Greek theater.
April 12 · 1 hr 59 min
Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts
Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts by social psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson is a compelling dive into the hidden mental machinery that causes us to deflect blame and justify our actions. Rather than simply admitting fault, the human brain unconsciously creates stories that protect our self-image, convincing us that we are always smart, moral, and right.Core Concepts ExploredCognitive Dissonance: The psychological discomfort we feel when our actions contradict our beliefs. The book explains how our brains resolve this jarring feeling by changing our beliefs rather than our behavior.Self-Justification: The automatic, unconscious process that allows us to justify bad decisions, hold on to outdated attitudes, or hurt others instead of admitting we were wrong.Memory Distortion: How our brains unconsciously reconstruct the past to support our present self-image and edit out our own errors.Real-World Impact: How these psychological mechanisms play out everywhere—from everyday romantic arguments and medical errors to the highly polarized political landscape.This The Good Book Club meeting was originally held on April 12, 2026.
March 8 · 1 hr 26 min
Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution
Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon is a popular science book that reexamines human evolution by placing the female body at the center of the story rather than treating it as secondary. The book traces key traits—such as lactation, pregnancy, brain development, language, and menopause—back through millions of years of mammalian and human evolution, showing how female biology has fundamentally shaped our species. By following a series of “Eves” (representing different evolutionary stages), Bohannon argues that many scientific narratives have historically overlooked or misunderstood women’s bodies, leading to gaps in knowledge in fields like medicine and anthropology. Overall, the book challenges male-centric assumptions about evolution and demonstrates that understanding the female body is essential to understanding human history, health, and behavior today. This The Good Book Club Meeting was held on March 8th, 2026.
February 8 · 1 hr 40 min
The Ten Worlds: The New Psychology of Happiness
The Ten Worlds: The New Psychology of Happiness argues that most people misunderstand what actually creates lasting happiness. In the book, authors Alex Lickerman and Ash ElDifrawi combine modern psychology with ideas drawn from Buddhist philosophy to explain that our happiness depends primarily on the beliefs we hold about life. They propose that people move through ten psychological “worlds,” or life-conditions, ranging from negative states like Hell, Hunger, Animality, and Anger to more positive ones such as Learning, Realization, and Compassion. Each of the first nine worlds is based on a mistaken belief—or “core delusion”—about what will make us happy, such as thinking happiness comes from getting what we want or avoiding pain. Because these beliefs rely on external conditions, the happiness they produce is fragile and temporary. The authors argue that true, enduring happiness comes from reaching the tenth world—Enlightenment—a psychological state achieved by recognizing a deeper truth about the nature of life and freeing ourselves from those delusions. This The Good Book Club Meeting was held on February 8th, 2026.
January 11 · 1 hr 33 min
Q&A With John G. Turner author of Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet
The Good Book Club held a Q&A with acclaimed author and historian John G. Turner to discuss his book "Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet." The discussion was so awesome we had to share it with a wider community! Our book club members asked a wide range of in depth questions as John weighs in on the life, teachings, and controversies surrounding the founder of the Mormonism. John offers a balanced, deeply researched portrait that situates Joseph Smith within the broader currents of American religious history. You won’t want to miss this! Thank you so much for watching Mormonish Podcast! ***How to DONATE to Mormonish Podcast: If you would like to help financially support our podcast, you can DONATE to support Mormonish Podcast here: Mormonish Podcast is a 501(c) (3) https://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcast The Good Book Club If you would like more info on The Good Book Club you can email us at thegoodbookclub@mail.com or find us on facebook here https://www.facebook.com/share/g/PK74... ****WE HAVE MERCH! **** If you’d like to purchase Mormonish Merch, you can visit our Merch store here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mormonishmerch You can get your own quote to attend our Post-Mormon Celebration Cruise by visiting - https://kheskethtravel.com/post-mormon-celebration-cruise And you can get more info on the cruise by visiting - https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/post-mormon-celebration-cruise/ We appreciate our Mormonish viewers and listeners so much! Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to Mormonish Podcast! Contact Mormonish Podcast: mormonishpodcast@gmail.com #mormonish #lds #mormon #exmormon #postmormon #religion #news, #ldschurch #comeuntochrist #churchofjesuschrist #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #byu #byui #josephsmith #comefollowme #polygamy #bookofmormon #becauseofhim #hearhim #ldstemple FAIR USE DISCLAIMER All Media in this video (including the thumbnail) is used for the purpose of review and critique. The images in the thumbnail are used as the primary means of visually identifying the subject matter of the video.
January 3 · 1 hr 34 min
The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues,
Dan McClellan’s latest book, The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues, is a scholarly yet accessible examination of how people interpret the Bible — and often misinterpret it. In it, McClellan, a Bible scholar and popular TikToker known for his “data over dogma” approach, takes on hot-button topics like homosexuality, abortion, slavery, monotheism, and even questions about God’s wife, showing clearly what the biblical texts actually say and don’t say on these issues. Rather than simply defending traditional readings, he digs into historical context, language, and cultural assumptions to help readers see past surface-level claims and understand the complexities of the world’s most influential book. Smart, engaging, and aimed at de-escalating polarized debates over Scripture, the book has quickly become a bestseller and a go-to resource for anyone seeking a more nuanced view of the Bible.
Nov 9, 2025 · 1 hr 28 min
Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner
Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner explores how experiences of awe—moments that spark wonder, vastness, and deep emotional resonance—can meaningfully improve our well-being. Drawing on scientific research and stories from around the world, Keltner shows that awe helps us feel more connected, reduces stress, broadens our perspective, and inspires kindness. The book encourages readers to seek out awe in everyday life, whether through nature, creativity, spirituality, or human connection, as a path to greater fulfillment and resilience. This The Good Book Club Meeting was originally held on November 9th, 2025. ***How to DONATE to The Good Book Club: If you would like to help financially support our bookclub, you can DONATE to support us through Mormonish Podcast's non profit here: Mormonish Podcast is a 501(c) (3) https://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcast
Oct 12, 2025 · 1 hr 16 min
The Mound Builder Myth: Fake History and the Hunt for a "Lost White Race"
The Mound Builder Myth: Fake History and the Hunt for a "Lost White Race" by Jason Colavito Say you found that a few dozen people, operating at the highest levels of society, conspired to create a false ancient history of the American continent to promote a religious, white-supremacist agenda in the service of supposedly patriotic ideals. Would you call it fake news? In nineteenth-century America, this was in fact a powerful truth that shaped Manifest Destiny. The Mound Builder Myth is the first book to chronicle the attempt to recast the Native American burial mounds as the work of a lost white race of “true” native Americans. This The Good Book Club meeting was held on October 12, 2025. ***How to DONATE to The Good Book Club: If you would like to help financially support our bookclub, you can DONATE to support us through Mormonish Podcast's non profit here: Mormonish Podcast is a 501(c) (3) https://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcast
Sep 14, 2025 · 1 hr 35 min
Dictates of Conscience : From Mormon High Priest to My New Life as a Woman
Laurie Lee Hall grew up knowing something about herself didn’t match how others saw her. Though born male, she deeply felt she was a girl. With no way to express this, she chose to live as a man and built a respected life in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—as a temple architect and church leader. In a faith where gender is seen as eternal and unchanging, her true identity remained hidden for years. But eventually, Laurie had a powerful spiritual experience that confirmed what she had always known: she was transgender. Choosing to live openly as herself meant risking her role, her faith community, and the life she had built. Her story is a powerful reminder of the strength it takes to live authentically—and the peace that comes with self-acceptance. This Q&A was originally a The Good Book Club meeting held on Sunday, September 14, 2025. ***How to DONATE to The Good Book Club: If you would like to help financially support our bookclub, you can DONATE to support us through Mormonish Podcast's non profit here: Mormonish Podcast is a 501(c) (3) https://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcast
Aug 10, 2025 · 1 hr 29 min
We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe
We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe by Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson is a fun, accessible exploration of the biggest mysteries in modern physics. Blending humor with clear explanations, the book dives into what scientists don’t know about the universe—from dark matter and dark energy to the nature of space, time, and fundamental particles. Rather than offering definitive answers, the authors celebrate curiosity and the vast unknowns that drive scientific discovery. Through engaging illustrations and witty commentary, We Have No Idea encourages readers to embrace the excitement of not knowing and to see science as an ongoing adventure of exploration. This The Good Book Club Meeting was originally held on Sunday, August 10th, 2025. ***How to DONATE to The Good Book Club Podcast: If you would like to help financially support our podcast, you can DONATE here through Mormonish Podcast/Bibliotech Media, Inc. We are a 501(c) (3) so your donation is tax deductible. https://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcast
Jul 13, 2025 · 1 hr 45 min
Doubt: A History: The Great Doubters and Their Legacy of Innovation from Socrates and Jesus to Thomas Jefferson and Emily Dickinson
Doubt: A History: The Great Doubters and Their Legacy of Innovation from Socrates and Jesus to Thomas Jefferson and Emily Dickinson Doubt: A History by Jennifer Michael Hecht is a sweeping intellectual history that explores the role of religious doubt, atheism, and skepticism throughout human civilization. Spanning from ancient times to the modern era, Hecht examines how doubt has been a crucial and persistent force in shaping philosophy, science, religion, and culture. The book highlights key figures and movements—from early Greek philosophers and Eastern thinkers to Enlightenment skeptics and contemporary secularists—demonstrating that questioning religious and spiritual beliefs has been an essential part of human thought. Rather than presenting doubt as purely negative or destructive, Hecht argues that it has played a vital role in progress, freedom, and intellectual development. This The Good Book Club Meeting was held on July 13th, 2025 ***How to DONATE to The Good Book Club Podcast: If you would like to help financially support our podcast, you can DONATE here through Mormonish Podcast/Bibliotech Media, Inc. We are a 501(c) (3) so your donation is tax deductible. https://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcast
Jul 6, 2025 · 1 hr 59 min
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
In our meeting this month we discussed the book, "Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End" by Atul Gawande. In this very important book, the author, a surgeon, explores modern mortality, aging, and end-of-life care, examining how medical advances have changed our relationship with death and what makes life meaningful until the end. This was a very powerful discussion and a very important one. This book changed all of us. This Good Book Club meeting was originally held on Sunday, June 22nd, 2025. ***How to DONATE to The Good Book Club Podcast: If you would like to help financially support our podcast, you can DONATE here through Mormonish Podcast/Bibliotech Media, Inc. We are a 501(c) (3) so your donation is tax deductible. https://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcast
May 20, 2025 · 1 hr 37 min
TGBC: The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow
Welcome to The Good Book Club Podcast where we make all our bookclub meetings available for viewers and listeners to enjoy. In our May bookclub meeting we discussed the book “The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity” by David Graeber and David Wengrow. This book offers a dramatically new understanding of human history, challenging our most fundamental assumptions about social evolution―from the development of agriculture and cities to the origins of the state, democracy, and inequality―and revealing new possibilities for human emancipation. For generations, our remote ancestors have been cast as primitive and childlike. The authors show how such theories first emerged in the eighteenth century and are far from the truth of our neolithic ancestors. We found this discussion incredibly interesting and we know you will too. This The Good Book Club meeting was originally held on Sunday, May 18th, 2025. ***How to DONATE to The Good Book Club Podcast: If you would like to help financially support our podcast, you can DONATE here through Mormonish Podcast/Bibliotech Media, Inc. We are a 501(c) (3) so your donation is tax deductible. https://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcast
Apr 21, 2025 · 1 hr 51 min
Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari
Welcome to The Good Book Club Podcast where we make all our book club meetings available for you to enjoy. This month we discussed the book "Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow" by Yuval Noah Harari. Yuval Noah Harari, author of the critically-acclaimed New York Times bestseller and international phenomenon Sapiens, returns with an equally original, compelling, and provocative book, turning his focus toward humanity’s future, and our quest to upgrade humans into gods. What then will replace famine, plague, and war at the top of the human agenda? As the self-made gods of planet earth, what destinies will we set ourselves, and which quests will we undertake? Homo Deus explores the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the twenty-first century—from overcoming death to creating artificial life. It asks the fundamental questions: Where do we go from here? This The Good Book Club Meeting was orginally held on Sunday, April 13th, 2025.
Mar 16, 2025 · 1 hr 55 min
Cultish: the Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
Welcome to The Good Book Club podcast where we make all our bookclub meetings available for viewers and listeners to enjoy. Our book this month was “Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism”by linguist Amanda Montell Through juicy storytelling and cutting original research, Montell exposes the verbal elements that make a wide spectrum of communities “cultish,” revealing how they affect followers of groups as notorious as Heaven’s Gate, but also how they pervade our modern start-ups, Peloton leaderboards, and Instagram feeds. Incisive and darkly funny, this enrapturing take on the curious social science of power and belief will make you hear the fanatical language of “cultish” everywhere. We found this book fascinating and we know you will too. This The Good Book Club Meeting was originally held on March 9th, 2025
Feb 17, 2025 · 1 hr 39 min
TGBC: The Art of Living a Meaningless Existence: Ideas from Philosophy That Change the Way You Think
Welcome to The Good Book Club Podcast, where we make all our book club meetings available for viewers and listeners to enjoy. In this book club meeting we discussed the book, "The Art of Living a Meaningless Existence: Ideas from Philosophy That Change the Way You Think" by Robert Pantano. In this book, the author attempts to provide the value of motivation and personal development through unwavering philosophical honesty. Studying and pulling from ideas in Stoicism, Existentialism, Nihilism, Absurdism, Buddhism, Taoism, and more, he combines his own thoughts with concepts from philosophy to create accessible, thought-provoking, and beautiful takeaways that will change the way you think about yourself, existence, and how to appreciate the absurdity of it all. This The Good Book Club meeting was originally held on Sunday, February 9th, 2025.
Feb 16, 2025 · 2 hr 6 min
TGBC: Second Class Saints with Matt Harris
A panel discussion with author Matt Harris The Good Book Club meeting with author Matt Harris to discuss his groundbreaking book, “Second Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality.” This was recorded as a Mormonish episode. Members of the book club have the chance to ask Matt anything and everything they’ve ever wanted to know about the lifting of the Priesthood ban, Matt’s research, and more! This is such an important discussion and Matt is just fantastic! you won’t want to miss this episode! The Good Book Club If you would like more info on The Good Book Club you can email us at thegoodbookclub@mail.com or find us on facebook here https://www.facebook.com/share/g/PK74wD9DpTpYHgp6/?mibextid=K35XfP
Dec 14, 2024 · 1 hr 58 min
Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman
Welcome to The Good Book Club Podcast where we make all our bookclub meetings available for viewers and listeners to enjoy. This month we read and discussed the book, "Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of my Hasidic Roots" by Deborah Feldman. As a member of the strictly religious Satmar sect of Hasidic Judaism, Deborah Feldman grew up under a code of relentlessly enforced customs governing everything from what she could wear and to whom she could speak to what she was allowed to read. Yet in spite of her repressive upbringing, Deborah grew into an independent-minded young woman who eventually reclaimed her life outside of her faith tradition and forged a new path for herself and her son. This The Good Book Club Meeting was orginally held on Sunday, December 8th, 2024.