How the Mormon News Roundup Began (The Story I’ve Never Told)
It’s hard to believe this, but it’s been almost four years since the Mormon News Roundup released its very first episode.
Despite nearly 3,000 videos and countless hours covering Mormonism, ex-Mormonism, and the cultural fallout surrounding the Church, I realized recently that I’ve never actually told the story of how this show came to be.
In this episode, I finally do.
I take you back to April 2022—right after I stepped away from weekly LDS Church activity—when I was processing anger, grief, curiosity, and a growing need to talk openly about Mormonism and the news surrounding it. That journey led me (naturally) to Reddit, where a single post unexpectedly sparked the creation of what would become the Mormon News Roundup.
You’ll hear about:
The very first audio-only pilot episode
The original co-host (“Al”), who remains anonymous for important reasons
What it was like co-hosting a podcast with the son of a very high-ranking Mormon leader
The moment Al stepped away—and how that forced me to learn everything about production, editing, thumbnails, and algorithms the hard way
A short clip from the very first episode of the show
From a rough, shoestring pilot briefly sponsored by Signature Books to a full-scale YouTube operation, this episode is a look back at where it all started—and why the core mission has never changed: telling the truth, asking hard questions, and refusing to let institutional power go unexamined.
Most importantly, this episode is a thank-you:
To Al, for helping lay the foundation.
And to you—the viewers, listeners, critics, supporters, and long-time lurkers—this community is the reason the Mormon News Roundup still exists.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for thinking critically.
And thank you for refusing to look away.
Always think celestial.
And remember: no unhallowed hand can stop the Mormon News Roundup from progressing.
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Email: kolob@mormonnewsroundup.org
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The Mormon News Roundup is NOT affilated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.