About The Joseph Smith Podcast
The Joseph Smith Podcast is a chronological deep-dive into the life of Mormonism’s founder. Over forty-one conversations, John Dehlin and historian John G. Turner follow Joseph Smith from his family’s treasure-digging years in upstate New York through the First Vision accounts, the Book of Mormon, Kirtland, Missouri, Nauvoo, polygamy, and his violent death at Carthage in 1844.
The series tracks Turner’s 2025 biography Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet (Yale University Press) chapter by chapter, drawing on the best available scholarship and primary sources, including the Joseph Smith Papers. It is meant to be listened to in order, but every episode stands on its own.
The Joseph Smith Podcast is produced by Mormon Stories Podcast and the Open Stories Foundation. Every episode is also published in the main Mormon Stories feed.
Books
Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet, John G. Turner. Yale University Press, 2025. The biography this series follows chapter by chapter.
No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith, Fawn M. Brodie. The classic 1945 biography, as an audiobook read by John Dehlin. Produced by Echo Point Books & Media. Also on Amazon.
Ways to listen
Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube RSS
Contact
Questions, corrections, or a story to share? See the contact page.
Support
The series is funded by listeners. Donate to the series
Host
John Dehlin
Founder and host of Mormon Stories Podcast since 2005. Ph.D. in clinical and counseling psychology. Executive director of the Open Stories Foundation.
Historian and guest expert
John G. Turner
Professor of Religious Studies at George Mason University. Author of Brigham Young, Pioneer Prophet (2012), The Mormon Jesus (2016), and Joseph Smith, The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet (Yale University Press, 2025), the book this series follows chapter by chapter.