Joseph Smith: Business, Belief, and Leadership with Historian John G. Turner - #25

In this episode of The Psychology of Business podcast, Dr. Brandon A. Griffin interviews historian Dr. John G. Turner (George Mason University) about the life and legacy of Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a central figure in Mormon history.

This episode marks a new expansion for the channel. While the podcast will continue to focus on contemporary business leaders, lectures, and tutorials, we are also opening space for conversations with historians, thinkers, and cultural figures whose work sheds light on leadership, organization, and influence across time. By examining Joseph Smith’s impact, we connect past dynamics of belief, community-building, and strategy with questions that remain relevant today.

The conversation explores:
Smith’s business ventures and financial experiments in Ohio, Missouri, and Nauvoo.
His leadership style and ability to build and sustain communities.
The role of belief, charisma, and organization in shaping the early Mormon movement.
How Joseph Smith fits into the broader context of 19th-century American religion and society.
Why John G. Turner is a historian and what his legacy will be.

Dr. Turner is the author of Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet (Yale University Press, 2025) and Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet (Harvard University Press, 2014).