A woman smiling outdoors, wearing a beige baseball cap with 'Vuori Encinitas California' written on it, dark sunglasses, a pink Columbia athletic shirt, and a smartwatch, standing in front of a waterfall in a lush, green forest setting.
A woman smiling outdoors, wearing a beige baseball cap with 'Vuori Encinitas California' written on it, dark sunglasses, a pink Columbia athletic shirt, and a smartwatch, standing in front of a waterfall in a lush, green forest setting.

Howdy, folks.

Scholar. Theologian. Veteran. Traveler. Storyteller.

I bridge theology, history, and advocacy through credible scholarship and informative yet approachable presentation.

Int’l Relations, UT Austin
Presidential Scholar & Jefferson Scholar

45 U.S. States
& International Travel

USAFR Chaplain Corps,
Chaplain Candidate

Historian, Theologian, Advocate
& Children’s Book Author

MTS, Phillips Theological Seminary · Stone-Campbell Scholar · HELM Global Theological Fellow

245K+ Followers
on 5 Platforms

My name is Leigh Larson. I’m a seminary graduate, Air Force veteran, and Presidential and Jefferson Scholar of University of Texas at Austin with a deep belief that ideas matter and that women's voices belong at the center of public conversation.

My Master of Theological Studies focused on the intersection of religion, politics, and women — including original research on Christian Nationalism in US military chaplaincy. I built Follow the Leighder to bring that same rigor and curiosity to a wider audience; one that is hungry for substance, not surface.

I’m passionate about the outdoors and public lands.

When I'm not recording or writing, I'm probably somewhere on the road or camping with my dog, Professor Huckleberry.

A woman wearing a colorful, patterned poncho, gray pants, hiking boots, and a cowboy hat is standing in a narrow canyon with smooth, colorful rock walls in shades of pink, orange, and red.

My Focus

A woman with long dark hair, wearing a black wide-brimmed hat and black outfit, standing behind a table with several books and pamphlets, gesturing with her hands, indoors near a window with sheer curtain.

SCHOLAR

History, theology, and thought leadership. Long-form conversations with credentialed academics, historians, and public intellectuals.

Because serious ideas deserve serious treatment.

A young woman with dark hair, wearing a yellow headband and a plaid shirt, standing outdoors in a dry, shrub-covered landscape during sunset. An older man in a hat and shorts is walking away in the background.

EXPLORER

Travel tied to historical, humanitarian, and cultural significance. On-location storytelling that brings the past alive for a modern, curious audience.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair standing near a camera, smiling. Behind her is a wall decoration that spells 'gather' in cursive, on wooden panels. There is a small lamp, a pumpkin, and a plant on a table, with patterned chairs around.

HUMAN

Women's empowerment, personal stories, and real talk. Honest conversations about faith, identity, service, and what it means to lead with purpose.

Children’s Book Series

The Adventures of Miss Leigh & Professor Huckleberry

The Adventures of Miss Leigh & Professor Huckleberry series takes young readers on camping trips across America's scenic lands and parks. This is a great introductory series for American history, our 50 states, and camping.

Narrated by Professor Huckleberry himself, this series focuses on history, natural sciences, and the great outdoors. Targeted for ages 4-6.

The Rockies

Latest from the Podcast

New conversations, every week.
Historians, theologians, women's advocates, and public intellectuals brought into honest conversation with you.

Latest from the Blog

Essays, analysis, and dispatches. Between episodes, I write about theology, history, politics, and the stories that don't fit in a 60-minute conversation.

Bring Follow the Leighder to your stage.

Available for keynotes, university lectures, conference panels, and podcast guest appearances.
Topics span Christian Nationalism, women in theology, military chaplaincy, and women's history. Opinions are my own and do not represent any institution.