Again, we’re asking questions of ourselves and the very nature of the themes we choose. This time we wonder whether persistence is a morally neutral trait, and whether morality of characteristics is more dependent on what you do with them than the characteristics themselves.
Covers Chapter 8 of The Way of Kings from The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
“Embedding Societal Values into Social Media Algorithms” by Bernstein, et. al.
For the kinds of rhetoric used in the LDS Church regarding media consumption, see, for example, the talk “Let Our Voices be Heard” given by M. Russell Ballard in October 2003.
Music is "Storm Steel" by Luiza_D.
Cover art is by Lamaery.
This is an unofficial, fan-made podcast that has no affiliation with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel.
Ardent: El
Worldsinger: Liz
Veristitalian: Adam
Theme: Persistence
Sacred Reading Method: Likening
Recording Date: October 23, 2025
Website Episode Page (with transcription)
Monetary Support:
Patreon (access to behind the scenes content, bonus episodes, and our Discord server [perks are tier-dependent])
TeePublic Store (shirts, hats, mugs, totes, and more!)
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Most of our time is spent discussing what excellence actually is and whether you can have excellence without comparison. Is excellence a burden? Is it a worthy goal? Is excellence even a real word at this point?
Covers Chapter 7 of The Way of Kings from The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson.
Music is "Storm Steel" by Luiza_D.
Cover art is by shayndl_art.
This is an unofficial, fan-made podcast that has no affiliation with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel.
Ardent: Liz
Worldsinger: El
Veristitalian: Adam
Theme: Excellence
Sacred Reading Method: Kinmaking
Recording Date: October 3, 2025
Website Episode Page (with transcription)
Monetary Support:
Patreon (access to behind the scenes content, bonus episodes, and our Discord server [perks are tier-dependent])
TeePublic Store (shirts, hats, mugs, totes, and more!)
Socials:
Kaladin finds himself at the Shattered Plains with some hope, but mostly endless suffering. We consider the human capacity to adapt, as well as how meeting people can be a journey rather than a destination.
Covers Chapter 6 of The Way of Kings from The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson.
The Martian by Andy Weir
“Pioneer Children Sang as They Walked”
The Tale of Three Trees retold by Angela Elwell Hunt and illustrated by Tim Jonke
Music is "Storm Steel" by Luiza_D.
Cover art is by Artur Mósca.
This is an unofficial, fan-made podcast that has no affiliation with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel.
Ardent: Adam
Worldsinger: Liz
Veristitalian: El
Theme: Circumstance
Sacred Reading Method: The First Oath
Recording Date: October 3, 2025
Website Episode Page (with transcription)
Monetary Support:
Patreon (access to behind the scenes content, bonus episodes, and our Discord server [perks are tier-dependent])
TeePublic Store (shirts, hats, mugs, totes, and more!)
Socials:
Covers Chapter 5 of The Way of Kings from The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson.
There may not have been crying last episode, but there's certainly a lot of it in this one. We discuss the opportunities in all forms and how they impact the lives of Shallan, Jasnah, and other characters. El gives an overview of linguistic collocations and how they can help us better understand how words are used.
Corpus of Contemporary American English
Coppermind page for this chapter.
Music is "Storm Steel" by Luiza_D.
Cover art is by Alex Allen.
This is an unofficial, fan-made podcast that has no affiliation with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel.
Ardent: El
Worldsinger: Adam
Veristitalian: Liz
Theme: Opportunity
Sacred Reading Method: Lectio Divina
Recording Date: October 3, 2025
Website Episode Page (with transcription)
Monetary Support:
Patreon (access to behind the scenes content, bonus episodes, and our Discord server [perks are tier-dependent])
TeePublic Store (shirts, hats, mugs, totes, and more!)
Socials:
Covers Chapter 4 of The Way of Kings from the Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson.
Kaladin’s conversations with Syl and Tvlakv inspired our discussion on bitterness and how to handle that feeling in our own lives. Using Syl’s questions as a guide, we view this chapter through the lens of a parable and ask ourselves why we cry.
This episode contains a very brief mention of suicidal ideation.
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, please call or text 988 toll-free in the United States.
Music is "Storm Steel" by Luiza_D.
Cover art is by Thomas Weigl.
This is an unofficial, fan-made podcast that has no affiliation with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel.
Ardent: Liz
Worldsinger: Adam
Veristitalian: El
Theme: Bitterness
Sacred Reading Method: Parables
Recording Date: September 12, 2025
Website Episode Page (with transcription)
Monetary Support:
Patreon (access to behind the scenes content, bonus episodes, and our Discord server [perks are tier-dependent])
TeePublic Store (shirts, hats, mugs, totes, and more!)
Socials:
Covers Chapter 3 of The Way of Kings from The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson.
Join us as we meet Shallan, interrogate the meaning of expectations, and have our first official Mormon Moment in our discussion LDS missions.
Music is "Storm Steel" by Luiza_D.
Cover art is by Lamaery.
This is an unofficial, fan-made podcast that has no affiliation with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel.
Ardent: El
Worldsinger: Liz
Veristitalian: Adam
Theme: Expectations
Sacred Reading Method: The First Oath
Recording Date: September 11, 2025
Website Episode Page (with transcription)
Monetary Support:
Patreon (access to behind the scenes content, bonus episodes, and our Discord server [perks are tier-dependent])
TeePublic Store (shirts, hats, mugs, totes, and more!)
Socials:
Covers Chapter 2 of The Way of Kings from The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson.
Our first Kaladin chapter! We read this chapter through the theme of “Perspective” and approaching it from the various definitions of perspective. Discussion of depression (both Kaladin’s and that of one of the hosts) is included in this episode. We use Lectio Divina to guide the sacred reading and help us see more depth in a specific passage.
Music is "Storm Steel" by Luiza_D.Cover art is by Thomas Weigl.
This is an unofficial, fan-made podcast that has no affiliation with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel.
Ardent: Adam
Worldsinger: El
Veristitalian: Liz
Theme: Perspective
Sacred Reading Method: Lectio Divina
Recording Date: September 11, 2025
Website Episode Page (with transcription)
Monetary Support:
Patreon (access to behind the scenes content, bonus episodes, and our Discord server [perks are tier-dependent])
TeePublic Store (shirts, hats, mugs, totes, and more!)
Socials:
Covers Chapter 1 of The Way of Kings from The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson.
We discuss the first chapter through the theme of “Responsibility,” including who is responsible for Cenn’s death. We consider Sanderson’s literary decision to have three non-viewpoint character chapters at the beginning of the book, and use Bibliomancy as a guide for sacred reading.
Music is "Storm Steel" by Luiza_D.Cover art is by zirael_art.
This is an unofficial, fan-made podcast that has no affiliation with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel.
Ardent: El
Worldsinger: Adam
Veristitalian: Liz
Theme: Responsibility
Sacred Reading Method: Bibliomancy
Recording Date: August 29, 2025
Website Episode Page (with transcription)
Monetary Support:
Patreon (access to behind the scenes content, bonus episodes, and our Discord server [perks are tier-dependent])
TeePublic Store (shirts, hats, mugs, totes, and more!)
Socials:
Covers the Prologue of The Way of Kings from The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson.
We discuss the Prologue through the theme of “Discernment,” examining whether or not Szeth is an active participant in his own life. We also talk about Szeth’s character arc in comparison with Wind and Truth. We try the Mormon sacred reading method of “likening.”
Coppermind page for this chapter.
Music is "Storm Steel" by Luiza_D.Cover art is by Ari Ibarra.
This is an unofficial, fan-made podcast that has no affiliation with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel.
Ardent: Liz
Worldsinger: El
Veristitalian: Adam
Theme: Discernment
Sacred Reading Method: Likening
Recording Date: August 29, 2025
Website Episode Page (with transcription)
Monetary Support:
Patreon (access to behind the scenes content, bonus episodes, and our Discord server [perks are tier-dependent])
TeePublic Store (shirts, hats, mugs, totes, and more!)
Socials:
Covers the Prelude of The Way of Kings from The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson.We discuss the Prelude through the theme of "Dispensations," examining how we view history and dispensational framing in Mormon thought versus the Vorin ardentia. We also discuss the weight of history and compare the Heralds to the Three Nephites of Mormon folklore. Adam presents a new sacred reading method — kinmaking — and we examine Kalak's connections (or lack thereof) with those around him.
For more on the Three Nephites, see The Three Nephites: Saints, Service and Supernatural Legend.
Coppermind page for this chapter.
Music is "Storm Steel" by Luiza_D.Cover art is Kalak by Micah Epstein.
This is an unofficial, fan-made podcast that has no affiliation with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel.
Ardent: Adam
Worldsinger: Liz
Veristitalian: El
Theme: Dispensations
Sacred Reading Method: Kinmaking
Recording Date: August 29, 2025
Website Episode Page (with transcription)
Monetary Support:
Patreon (access to behind the scenes content, bonus episodes, and our Discord server [perks are tier-dependent])
TeePublic Store (shirts, hats, mugs, totes, and more!)
Socials:
The introductory episode! Meet your hosts (alphabetically by first name): Adam McLain, El Call, and Liz Busby.
We cover how this podcast got started, the titles/names we chose, our goals for the podcast, the format of the show, our spoiler policy, more background on us the hosts, and ways that you can reach out and connect with us (see the links below!)
The Power of Ritual, the book that inspired this podcast.
Leading Edge, where Adam (and Brandon) got a start in speculative fiction.
Music is "Storm Steel" by Luiza_D.
This is an unofficial, fan-made podcast that has no affiliation with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel.
Website Episode Page (with transcription)
Monetary Support:
Patreon (access to behind the scenes content, bonus episodes, and our Discord server [perks are tier-dependent])
TeePublic Store (shirts, hats, mugs, totes, and more!)
Socials:
Spotify