Ever wonder why the buildings on BYU-Idaho’s campus were named after people like Jacob Spori, Eliza R. Snow or Thomas E. Ricks? A new BYU-Idaho podcast, The Roots of the Mighty Oaks, explains the answer to that question as it invites listeners to explore the legacy of the men and women who shaped the institution that has become Brigham Young University-Idaho. Through short, story-driven episodes, the podcast highlights the school’s founders whose faith and vision continue to influence the university’s campus culture and its mission to build disciple leaders of Jesus Christ.
Episodes range from 10-15 minutes and are told in a storytelling format, each one highlighting a different BYU-Idaho building namesake. Every episode focuses on one or two principles that can be learned from that individual’s life that also align with the values highlighted in the Legacy Hall exhibit inside the Hyrum Manwaring Student Center.
The project was created, written, and recorded by Eden Rowe, a BYU-Idaho Communications’ student whose passion for Church history first sparked as she served as a Nauvoo Historic Site missionary. The idea for the podcast came after Rowe began work as a campus tour lead for University Public Affairs. She observed that while many students may know the names of campus buildings, that was often the extent of their knowledge on BYUI history. After taking a broadcast performance class, she decided to take on the podcast.
“This podcast is for anyone who is interested in learning more about Church and BYU Idaho’s history,” Rowe said. “It’s to help us understand and appreciate those who came before us and notice that they were people just like us, walking in faith.”
Rowe expressed gratitude for the heavenly aid and inspiration she felt while working on the podcast.
“There were a few times when I finished an episode, reread the script, and felt like I missed the mark,” she said. “Even though all the facts were true and backed with multiple resources, I felt sometimes that the specific stories weren’t the ones that needed to be shared for that episode, so I continued working until it felt right. These experiences have taught me that the veil is thinner than we assume it is, and I personally believe that those who impacted our university are still impacting us today. I know God is aware of all our needs, and he doesn’t want His children to feel forgotten or be forgotten.”
Roots of the Mighty Oaks is now available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple, and YouTube, with new episodes being released weekly on Friday.