Season 3 Episode 5 of the Scholars & Saints Podcast Now Available

Nicholas Shrum talks about the latest Joseph Smith biography with author John G. Turner

The third season of Scholars & Saints continues! Host Nicholas Shrum (PhD Student in American Religions at the University of Virginia), continues to explore some of the most pressing issues, unique histories, and cutting-edge methods in Mormon Studies.

Season 3 Episode 5 – Mediated Mormons (feat. Rosemary Avance)

Our 21st century digital age provides countless and unprecedented opportunities for identity development and cultural engagement. But how might these new means of social interaction impact religious institutions and their public image?

On today’s episode of Scholars & Saints, host Nicholas Shrum seeks out these answers with the help of Oklahoma State University’s Professor of Media and Strategic Communications Rosemary Avance. In her recent book, Mediated Mormons: Shifting Religious Identities in the Digital Age, Avance explores how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints created and negotiated its public image during the “Mormon Moment” of the 2010’s. Avance and Shrum discuss the different media focuses during this period, including Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, online discussions around caffeine, the Gospel Topics Essays, and more.

You can learn more about Rosemary Avance, her research, and her academic interests by visiting her faculty page. Avance will also serve as a panelist for the upcoming UVA Mormon Studies panel on “Belief and Belonging in the 21st Century“.

What is Scholars and Saints?

Scholars & Saints is the official podcast of the University of Virginia’s Mormon Studies program, housed in the Department of Religious Studies. Scholars & Saints is a venue of public scholarship that promotes respectful dialogue about Latter-day Saint traditions among laypersons and academics. On this podcast, we dive into the academic study of Mormonism, engage recent and classic scholarship, interview prominent and up-and-coming thinkers in the field and reflect on Mormonism’s relevance to the broader study of religion.

Be sure to follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook to keep up to date with the latest episodes of Scholars & Saints!

Listen to Previous Episodes of Scholars & Saints