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Counterflow with Buck Johnson

Buck Johnson

The Counterflow Podcast is a weekly show featuring discussions and interviews with people who are outside of and critical toward mainstream liberal and conservative politics. Counterflow challenges the conventional narratives sold to us as truth. The show features thinkers from all backgrounds, who do not fit into the narrow framework of fashionable opinion. The show addresses cultural, spiritual and lifestyle issues as well as philosophy and geo-politics. Host Buck Johnson (formerly of the Death To Tyrants Podcast) is a musician, firefighter and Orthodox Christian and has always had an interest and drive to go one way while everyone else runs the other direction.

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September 15 · 59 min
Ep. 431 - Baptism Before Death: Love, Loss, and Salvation, with Kara Mosher
I've known Kara Mosher for a few years now and she has one hell of a story. Her road to Orthodoxy was already pretty wild. She spent years involved in the occult, New Age spirituality, psychedelics, and all kinds of things she thought might give her answers or healing. Eventually, that search led her somewhere she never expected: the Orthodox Church. This conversation is about love, loss, and what it means to surrender someone you love to God. Kara shares the story of Jody, her partner of sixteen years, his long struggle with addiction, and the tragic fire that left him fighting for his life. In those final hours, Kara was given an unexpected opportunity to do something that Jody had wanted but never completed: baptize him into the Orthodox Church. We talk about that day, the firefighters who brought Jody back, the baptism, grief, providence, and what Kara means when she says this experience "crucified her will." This is a heavy conversation, but it's not a hopeless one. It's about discovering that loving someone doesn't mean you can save them—and learning to trust God when His answer looks nothing like the one you prayed for. Guest Website: https://www.karamosher.com/ Sponsors: Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
September 8 · 59 min
Ep. 430 - The Price of Knowing: Psychics, Demons, and Spiritual Deception, with Justine Alter
Justine Alter joins me to discuss her book How Could I Possibly Convert to Orthodox Christianity?, written specifically for psychics, magicians, occult practitioners, and others attempting to leave that world behind. Justine writes from firsthand experience with the occult and now approaches these questions from within Orthodox Christianity. We talk about psychic phenomena, spirit communication, demons, prelest and spiritual discernment; why seemingly accurate supernatural information can itself become a trap; the seductive idea of being "gifted" or spiritually special; and why the desire to know what other people are thinking or feeling can slowly replace genuine human relationship with observation, prediction, and control. We also get into the modern fascination with being an "empath," and the danger of treating our impressions of other people as unquestionable facts. Because of threats connected to her past, Justine does not appear on camera and uses a voice modifier to protect her identity. Sponsors: Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
September 1 · 1 hr 9 min
Ep. 429 - The Danger of Being Right: Finding Orthodoxy Without Losing Humility, with Kenneth B.
Kenneth B., writer of Becoming Orthodox, joins me for a great conversation about his journey to the Orthodox Church and what he's learned along the way. We get into Scripture and Tradition, the saints, the Theotokos, the ancient Jewish world Christianity emerged from, and why more young people seem to be searching for something deeper than what modern Christianity and culture are offering. We also talk about the danger of being right—especially for Orthodox converts. Finding the ancient Church doesn't mean our job is to beat everyone we love over the head with it. Sometimes we speak the truth, live the faith, love people where they are, and trust the Holy Spirit to do what we can't. It's a very beautiful conversation about discovering Orthodoxy, living the faith, and what it actually means to become Orthodox. Sponsors: Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship Conference, Sept 12th 2026 Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
August 25 · 1 hr 5 min
Ep. 428 - From Ancient Faith to Ideology: Protestantism's Drift and the Orthodox Way Back, with Dr. Clark Carlton
In this episode, I'm joined by my friend and one of my favorite authors, Dr. Clark Carlton, for a conversation about Protestantism, Orthodoxy, and what happens when Christianity becomes less a lived, sacramental faith and more an ideology derived from a text. Clark takes us through the history of American Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism, including the Southern Baptist "Conservative Resurgence," and asks an important question: why do conservative Protestant movements seem to win battles while the larger drift continues? His answer goes much deeper than politics, wokeness, or simply blaming theological liberals. We get into sola scriptura, the relationship between Scripture and the Church, Fundamentalism's attempt to fight rationalism with rationalism, and Clark's argument that Orthodoxy begins from an entirely different understanding of Christianity—not primarily as a system of ideas, but as life in Christ and participation in His Body, the Church. Clark is also co-founder and editorial director of the Philip Ludwell III Orthodox Fellowship, which works to nurture and grow the Orthodox faith in the American South. Check out their work, articles, conferences, and more at SouthernOrthodox.org. Sponsors: Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship Conference, Sept 12th 2026 Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
August 18 · 1 hr
Ep. 427 - From Stand-Up to Sitting Down: Comedy, Orthodoxy, and Stories, with Carollynn Xavier
My guest this week is Carollynn Xavier—Orthodox catechumen , longtime touring comedian, and now host of a brand-new interview show coming to Logos Cinema. We get into Carollynn's years doing stand-up and touring, what life as a comedian actually looks like, how Orthodoxy fits into all of it, and why she's now trading some of that stand-up time for sitting down with interesting people. Her new show is pretty simple: no script, no formula, no manufactured outrage. Just genuine curiosity about people and seeing where the conversation goes. Sometimes it gets deep, sometimes it gets weird, sometimes it apparently ends up at monster trucks. We talk comedy, faith, curiosity, listening, storytelling, and why actually talking to people—and being interested in them—might be more important than ever. Visit: https://Carolynnxavier.com https://LogosCinema.com Sponsor: Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship Conference, Sept 12th 2026 Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
August 11 · 1 hr 4 min
Ep. 426 - When Truth Became Dangerous: COVID, the Church, and Forgiveness, with Fr. Zechariah Lynch
Fr. Zechariah Lynch joins me to talk about something a lot of people would rather forget: what the COVID years actually did to us. We get into fear, mandates, "misinformation," the pressure to conform, and the damage done to people who simply asked questions. Fr. Zechariah also gets personal about what he and his family went through within the Church during that time and why he describes some of it as psychological abuse. We also talk about repentance, forgiveness, and how we move forward without pretending none of it happened. Read Fr. Zechariah's article, Social Trauma, Dr. Fauci, Covid Mandates, the Church, and Forgiveness: https://inklesspen.blog/2026/07/30/social-trauma-dr-fauci-covid-mandates-the-church-and-forgiveness/ Subscribe to his Substack here: https://substack.com/@inklesspen Sponsors: Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship Conference, Sept 12th 2026 Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
August 4 · 1 hr 27 min
Ep. 425 - Beyond Denominations: Worship, Story, and the Search for the True Church, with Neil DeGraide
In this episode of Counterflow, I'm joined by Neil DeGraide, musician, songwriter, and founding member of Dirt Poor Robins. Neil spent years in the Evangelical world leading worship and creating Christian music before beginning a journey that ultimately led him to the Orthodox Church. We talk about what changed, the assumptions he had to unlearn, and why he came to believe the search for the true Church is about much more than denominations. We also dive into Christianities, the upcoming documentary Neil is helping produce alongside Fr. Peter Heers and John Heers. The film explores the biggest questions in Christianity by interviewing voices from across the Christian world while inviting viewers to seriously consider the claims of the ancient Church. Along the way we discuss worship, storytelling, imagination, culture, filmmaking, and why the stories we live inside shape us far more than we often realize. We Discuss: * Neil's journey from Evangelicalism to Orthodoxy * Leading worship—and why his understanding of worship completely changed * Dirt Poor Robins and storytelling through music * The upcoming documentary Christianities * Why there are so many expressions of Christianity today * The search for the historic Church * Story, imagination, and the Christian life * Recovering a richer vision of worship * The role of artists in rebuilding Christian culture * Why beauty, truth, and story belong together * Hope for the future of Christianity Learn More: Dirt Poor Robins Dirt Poor Robins on YouTube Christianities Documentary Sponsors: Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship Conference, Sept 12th 2026 Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
July 28 · 1 hr 10 min
Ep. 424 - How Logos Cinema Is Building an Orthodox Culture Through Story, with Andrew Stokich
For decades, Christians have lamented the decline of culture. We criticize Hollywood, complain about entertainment, and point out everything that's wrong with the stories shaping our civilization. But what comes after the criticism? My guest, Andrew Stokich, co-founder of Logos Cinema, believes the answer isn't retreat—it's creation. In this episode, we explore why storytelling has always been one of the primary ways civilizations pass on their values, why beauty matters as much as truth, and why the battle for culture begins in the imagination long before it reaches politics. We discuss the failures of modern Christian filmmaking, the unique vision of Orthodox storytelling, and how Logos Cinema hopes to cultivate not just better films, but stronger communities rooted in the life of the Church. Andrew also shares the vision behind the Logos Parish Roadshow, the importance of moving from digital platforms to real-world relationships, and why building culture ultimately requires artists, families, parishes, and ordinary Christians working together. If you've ever wondered what it actually looks like to "build culture" instead of simply critiquing it, this conversation offers a hopeful and practical vision for the future. Learn more about Logos Cinema Sponsor: Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship Conference, Sept 12th 2026 Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
July 21 · 1 hr 19 min
Ep. 423 - Inverting the Inversion: Reclaiming Culture, with Mano Elia
What happens when Orthodox Christians stop simply criticizing culture and start creating it? In this episode, Buck chats with his good friend Mano Elia—host of the Study of Stuff Podcast, founder of Spoon Records, and one of the driving forces behind the Bored No More movement—to discuss what it means to reclaim culture by creating art, music, film, and authentic community centered on Christ and His Church. Mano shares the vision behind Bored No More, a growing network of Orthodox Christian creators dedicated to producing meaningful media, cultivating community, and encouraging artists to create work rooted in Christ. He also discusses Bored No More's partnership with Logos Cinema, where the network's growing catalog of content will soon be available alongside a broader streaming platform devoted to faith-centered films and entertainment. Rather than merely reacting to a culture in decline, Mano challenges Orthodox Christians to what he calls "inverting the inversion"—reclaiming the very spaces that have been distorted and restoring them to the service of God. Buck and Mano also discuss the spiritual condition of Canada, the growing sense of isolation and nihilism they see throughout the country, the expansion of medically assisted suicide, and what these trends reveal about a society that has lost hope. They also explore the blessings and pitfalls of online Orthodoxy, why internet debates should never replace life in the parish, and why our hardworking priests deserve far more grace and gratitude than criticism. Topics include: * What "inverting the inversion" really means * Why Orthodox Christians should create culture instead of merely critique it * The vision behind the Bored No More movement * Bored No More's partnership with Logos Cinema * Spoon Records and cultivating meaningful music * Canada's growing spiritual crisis * Loneliness, nihilism, and medically assisted suicide * The strengths and weaknesses of online Orthodoxy * Why faithful parish life matters more than internet arguments * Showing grace and appreciation for our priests Learn more about Mano's work: Bored No More Community Support the mission Bored No More Study of Stuff Podcast (YouTube) Study of Stuff on Instagram Logos Cinema Sponsor: Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com Audio Production by Podsworth Media: https://www.podsworth.com Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
July 14 · 1 hr 11 min
Ep. 422 - Truth, Beauty, and the Orthodox Way Out of the Occult, with Erika MacDougall
Before becoming Orthodox, Erika MacDougall spent years immersed in the occult. She practiced theistic Satanism, participated in blood rituals, worked with ritual magic, and was even paid to place curses on others. What promised power, hidden knowledge, and spiritual enlightenment ultimately led to bondage, fear, and despair. In this episode, Erika shares her remarkable journey to Christ and the Orthodox Church while exploring the deeper spiritual realities behind the modern resurgence of occult practices. Together we discuss astrology, tarot, manifestation, yoga, spiritual warfare, beauty, motherhood, repentance, and why so many people today are searching for transcendence everywhere except the Church. We also explore why evil cannot create—only imitate and invert—and why Orthodoxy offers the fullness of truth, beauty, healing, and freedom found in Jesus Christ. In This Episode: * Erika's journey from the occult to Orthodoxy * Blood rituals, ritual magic, and placing curses * Astrology, tarot, manifestation, yoga, and modern spirituality * Spiritual warfare and discernment * Beauty, icons, and the Orthodox vision of creation * The body, motherhood, and authentic healing * Repentance, forgiveness, and finding freedom in Christ Learn More About Erika: Shire Skincare creates handcrafted products inspired by a Christian vision of beauty, creation, and caring for the body. Explore Erika's skincare line, articles, and resources at shireskincare.com. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone searching for truth, beauty, and the Orthodox faith. Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Sponsors: Thea's Orthodox Young Adult Formation Conference: https://thetemplesteps.com Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
July 7 · 1 hr 15 min
Ep. 421 - Orthodoxy Beyond the Algorithm, with John Heers
In an age dominated by algorithms, outrage, and endless scrolling, what does it mean to become a truly human person? John Heers joins me for a wide-ranging conversation on modernity, the crisis of meaning, internet Orthodoxy, the rise of the "Orthobro," and why so many people are searching for identity. We discuss how social media shapes the soul, why information alone cannot heal us, the Orthodox understanding of the heart, and how genuine community—not merely online discourse—forms us into the people God created us to be. John argues that the greatest struggle of our time is not merely political or cultural, but deeply spiritual. Finally, we dive into one of John's favorite topics: the Supra. More than a shared meal, it has become a living expression of hospitality, friendship, and the kind of embodied community that modern life has largely forgotten. If you've ever wondered why so many people feel disconnected despite being more "connected" than ever, this conversation is for you. About John Heers: John Heers is the founder of First Things Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through hospitality, cultural exchange, education, and authentic human relationships. His work has taken him across the globe, serving as a Peace Corps water resource manager in Mali, directing emergency relief efforts in the Republic of Georgia following the Abkhazia conflict, working in international development in Haiti, and teaching for nearly a decade in the South Bronx and Harlem. He also helped found Seacrest Country Day School in Naples, Florida. Today, John hosts the Heavy Things Lightly podcast and continues his work through First Things Foundation, including the Art of the Tamada, international field work, and Keipi Restaurant in Greenville, South Carolina—a nonprofit restaurant introducing guests to the rich tradition of Georgian hospitality. His work explores how the wisdom of the Old World can help heal many of the cultural and spiritual crises of the modern West. (First Things Foundation⁠) Guest's Links: https://www.heavythingslightly.com https://first-things.org Sponsors: Thea's Orthodox Young Adult Formation Conference: https://thetemplesteps.com Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
June 30 · 1 hr 4 min
Ep. 420 - When Validation Isn't Love: An Orthodox Psychologist on Truth and Healing with Dr. Anastasia Stewart
In this episode, Buck sits down with Dr. Anastasia Stewart, an Orthodox Christian psychologist and trauma specialist, to explore the relationship between modern psychology and the healing tradition of the Orthodox Church. Together they discuss where psychology contains genuine insights—and where it falls short without Christ. Drawing on decades of experience treating trauma, PTSD, women's mental health, and veterans, Dr. Stewart explains why empathy without truth can become enabling, why validation isn't always loving, and why genuine healing requires both compassion and repentance. The conversation explores the limits of therapeutic culture, the role of clergy and clinicians in caring for the whole person, spiritual warfare, trauma, externalizing responsibility, and the Orthodox understanding of becoming whole through Christ. Whether you're a clinician, a priest, or simply someone seeking healing, this conversation offers a thoughtful and deeply Orthodox vision of the human person and the path toward true restoration. Topics include: * Orthodoxy and modern psychology * Why validation isn't always love * Trauma, PTSD, and the healing of the soul * The limits of secular therapy * Spiritual warfare and psychological suffering * The role of clergy and clinicians About Dr. Anastasia Stewart Dr. Anastasia Stewart is an Orthodox Christian psychologist specializing in trauma, PTSD, women's mental health, and evidence-based clinical treatment. She earned dual bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Communication Studies from UCLA before completing her Ph.D. in Psychology at Washington State University. Her clinical training includes Dartmouth College, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in collaboration with the National Center for PTSD. During her career with the VA, she helped develop one of the nation's early Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) programs, became the first psychologist embedded in a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program, and developed an interprofessional postdoctoral fellowship program. She later founded Triangle Services Consulting, where she continues her clinical work, consultation, and professional mentoring while pioneering an approach that thoughtfully integrates Orthodox Christian anthropology with contemporary psychological practice. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode with a friend. Your support helps us continue exploring faith, culture, and the pursuit of truth through conversations with Orthodox clergy, scholars, clinicians, and cultural commentators. www.patreon.com/counterflow Sponsor: Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
June 23 · 1 hr 3 min
Ep. 419 - Therapy, Trauma, and Theosis, with Fr. Turbo Qualls
In this post-conference conversation, Fr. Turbo Qualls joins me to reflect on the themes, insights, and discussions that emerged from the inaugural OINTMENT Conference—an event bringing together clergy, clinicians, and laypeople to explore the relationship between Orthodox Christianity, mental health, and the healing of the human person. Our discussion moves beyond the usual debates about therapy and religion to examine deeper questions: What is healing? What role do trauma, suffering, and repentance play in spiritual growth? How should Orthodox Christians think about psychology, medication, and mental health treatment? And how do we avoid reducing human beings to either diagnoses or demons? We explore the Orthodox understanding of the person, the Church as a hospital for the soul, the modern crisis of loneliness and fragmentation, and the ultimate goal of the Christian life—theosis. Whether you're a priest, clinician, convert, or simply someone seeking healing, this conversation offers a thoughtful and deeply Orthodox vision of what it means to become whole. In This Episode * Reflections and takeaways from the OINTMENT Conference * Orthodoxy and modern psychology * Trauma, suffering, and spiritual healing * The relationship between clergy and clinicians * The Church as a hospital for the soul * Medication, therapy, and discernment * Theosis as the goal of the Christian life * The deepest wounds of modern America * Hope for the future of Orthodox ministry and mental health care About Fr. Turbo Qualls Fr. Turbo Qualls is the rector of St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the founder of the OINTMENT Institute, an initiative dedicated to fostering collaboration between Orthodox clergy and mental health professionals in the care and healing of the human person. Fr. Turbo holds graduate and postgraduate degrees in Addiction Studies and Pastoral Counseling with an emphasis in crisis response and trauma. He also serves as a spiritual father, speaker, educator, and conference organizer, helping Orthodox Christians think more deeply about healing, suffering, and the therapeutic tradition of the Church. Learn More: OINTMENT Institute⁠ A growing network dedicated to fostering collaboration between Orthodox clergy and mental health professionals while remaining rooted in the Orthodox understanding of the human person and the healing of the soul. OINTMENT Conference St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church⁠ Located in Kansas City, Missouri, St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church is known for its commitment to Orthodox evangelism, pastoral care, education, and outreach. The parish also supports ministries including Mt. Tabor School of Liberal Arts and has become a hub for Orthodox formation and discipleship. Support the Show: If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode with a friend. Your support helps us continue exploring faith, culture, and the pursuit of truth through conversations with Orthodox clergy, scholars, clinicians, and cultural commentators. www.patreon.com/counterflow Sponsor: Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
June 16 · 1 hr 11 min
Ep. 418 - Built for War, Unprepared for Peace: A Navy SEAL's Journey Through PTSD and Spiritual Warfare, with Slade Cutrer
In this episode, I chat with former Navy SEAL Slade Cutrer for a candid conversation about military service, trauma, spiritual warfare, and the search for healing. After spending fifteen years in one of the most demanding military communities in the world, Slade found himself facing challenges that combat training could not prepare him for. We discuss the realities of life in the SEAL Teams, PTSD, hyper-vigilance, sleep paralysis, and why he came to see many of his struggles as spiritual rather than merely psychological. Slade shares his experiences with New Age practices and psychedelic healing retreats, why he believes they ultimately failed to provide lasting answers, and the profound realization that led him to seek Christ and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Topics include: • Growing up and early religious influences • BUD/S training and life in the SEAL Teams • PTSD, hyper-vigilance, and life after combat • Sleep paralysis and spiritual warfare • Psychedelics, New Age healing, and false shortcuts • The challenges of transitioning from warrior to civilian life • Marriage, family, and finding purpose after military service • The role of silence • Finding peace, order, and healing in the Orthodox Church Follow Slade: https://www.instagram.com/slayderaider Sign the petition against windmill farms near Holy Trinity Monastery: https://www.change.org/p/wind-turbines-endanger-historic-monastery-hub-of-orthodox-christian-community Come to our 4th annual Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship Conference: https://southernorthodox.org/kentucky-conference/ Sponsor: Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
June 9 · 1 hr 8 min
Ep. 417 - Growing Up Soviet, Finding Christ, and Ministering Behind Bars, with Fr. Sergei Sveshnikov
Fr. Sergei Sveshnikov grew up in the Soviet Union during the final years of state-sponsored atheism before immigrating to the United States on his own. After some life happenings and lots of revelations, he became an Orthodox priest. A fascinating aspect of his ministry has been in the prisons. We get into what that is and how it compares and contrasts with being a priest in a parish. In this conversation, we discuss life under Soviet atheism, prison ministry, freedom and repentance, the struggle against the passions, fasting, and the challenges facing Christians in the modern world. We also explore technology, artificial intelligence, and what it means to cultivate wisdom in an age overflowing with information. Sponsor: Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
June 2 · 57 min
Ep. 416 - Writing the Collapse: Fiction, Faith, and Spiritual Warfare, with Andrew Edwards
In this episode, I chat with author Andrew Edwards to discuss his novel King of Dogs and the deeper realities that inspired it. While the conversation begins with fiction, it quickly expands into a wide-ranging discussion on spiritual warfare, civilizational decline, modern nihilism, masculinity, technology, geopolitics, and what it means to remain fully human in an age of fragmentation. We explore the themes beneath the story: the forces competing for our attention, the spiritual consequences of a culture without transcendence, the nature of suffering, and the battle for the human soul in a world increasingly defined by distraction and disorder. Is modern society experiencing a political crisis, a cultural crisis, or a spiritual one? And how can Christians cultivate clarity, courage, and faithfulness amid uncertainty and collapse? This conversation uses fiction as a lens to examine the world we actually inhabit. About Andrew Edwards: Andrew Edwards is a novelist, essayist, and cultural commentator whose work explores the intersection of faith, meaning, masculinity, power, and civilizational decline. His novel King of Dogs blends post-collapse fiction, spiritual symbolism, and philosophical reflection to examine what remains of the human person when the structures of modern life begin to fail. Through both fiction and non-fiction writing, Edwards explores the moral, spiritual, and cultural questions shaping the modern world. Connect with Andrew Edwards: * X / Twitter: https://x.com/goldengoatguild * Substack: https://substack.com/@goldengoatguild Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
May 26 · 1 hr 8 min
Ep. 415 - Leaving Evangelicalism for the Ancient Church, with Fr. David Hovik
What happens when an Evangelical pastor begins seriously studying the early Church — and realizes modern Christianity looks very different from ancient Christianity? In this episode, I chat with Father David Hovik to discuss his remarkable journey from Evangelical ministry into the Orthodox Church, and how that journey ultimately brought much of his congregation with him. This story is truly captivating. We talk about the spiritual hunger that exists beneath modern life, the limits of contemporary Christianity, and why more people are searching for something ancient, rooted, and sacramental. Fr. David reflects on the risks, resistance, and transformation that came with leaving behind familiar forms of Christianity in pursuit of what he became convinced was the historic Church founded by Christ and preserved through the centuries. This conversation explores: - Fr. David's path from Evangelical pastor to Orthodox priest - The role of Church history in his conversion - Why modern Christianity can feel spiritually fragmented - The difference between "personal faith" and historic Christianity - Liturgy, sacraments, and the ancient Christian worldview - Bringing an entire congregation into Orthodoxy - Spiritual formation in a distracted modern age - Why people are increasingly drawn to the ancient faith Fr. David brings a calm, pastoral, and deeply grounded perspective to questions many modern Christians are quietly wrestling with. FOLLOW FR. DAVID / ST. ANDREW ORTHODOX CHURCH: St. Andrew Orthodox Church Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
May 19 · 1 hr 4 min
Ep. 414 - Orthodox Nationalism and the Israel Question, with Benjamin Michael
Host of "American Orthodoxy" a live Orthodox news show, Benjamin Michael (formerly Orthodox Luigi) is a prior Marine Corps Officer and now Orthodox Christian apologist and Independent Journalist. He engages in public debates, and creates educational content on Orthodox theology and various topics related to politics and religion, while also conducting advocacy work in Washington, D.C. He is the Director of Public Affairs, Co-Founder, and Chair of Orthodox Worldwide, INC. He also serves as Secretary of the Society of St. John of San Francisco, a nationwide pan-Orthodox fraternity. IN THIS EPISODE: * Benjamin Michael's journey into Orthodoxy * Why he began speaking publicly about Israel and geopolitics * What people mean by "the Jewish Question" * Orthodox perspectives on nationalism and identity * The modern Right and its internal fractures * Boomers, Gen X, and the changing political landscape * Zionism, empire, and modern power structures * The Russian Revolution and ideological upheaval * Marxism, globalism, and spiritual dislocation * The Third Temple and modern prophetic movements * Why many people feel politically betrayed * The difference between Orthodox nationalism and secular nationalism For Ben's show: https://youtube.com/@realbenmichael Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
May 12 · 1 hr 14 min
Ep. 413 - Journey to Reality: Sacramental Christianity in a Secular Age, with Dr. Zachary Porcu
What if the biggest obstacle to understanding Christianity is not disbelief—but modernity itself? In this episode, Buck chats with Dr. Zachary Porcu to discuss sacramental Christianity, the modern secular mindset, and why so many people today—even Christians—struggle to see reality the way the ancient Church did. They explore the difference between treating Christianity as a system of ideas versus participating in it as a lived reality. The conversation dives into the nature of truth, the problem of interpretation, the meaning of the Trinity, the Fall of man, suffering, evil, and why the sacramental worldview of historic Christianity feels so foreign to the modern mind. They also discuss the necessity of the Church, the priesthood, the sacraments, and why Christianity cannot be reduced to either "just me and my Bible" or vague spirituality detached from embodied worship and communion. IN THIS EPISODE * Why modern people misunderstand Christianity * The difference between text-based and sacramental Christianity * The meaning of "participatory" truth * The Trinity and the problem of "the one and the many" * Why modern culture struggles to understand love * The deeper meaning of the Fall * The origins of evil and suffering * Problems with modern Christian views of suffering * The necessity of the Church and priesthood * Why sacraments are more than symbols * Where the Bible fits within the life of the Church * Recovering a sacramental view of reality ABOUT DR. ZACHARY PORCU Zachary Porcu is the author of Journey to Reality and the host of the podcast The Roots of Everything. Zachary earned his PhD in Church History at The Catholic University of America under the direction of Robin Darling Young. He holds additional degrees in Philosophy, Classics, and Interdisciplinary Humanities and has taught Greek, Latin, history, philosophy, and theology at private schools and universities on both the East and West coasts. Zachary is a catechist at St. Andrew's Orthodox Church, an editor at St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, and a lecturer at St. Athanasius College. LINKS Journey to Reality by Dr. Zachary Porcu Ancient Faith Publishing Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com Audio Production by Podsworth Media: https://www.podsworth.com Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!
May 5 · 1 hr
Ep. 412 - If a Nation Loses Truth, What Is Left to Die For? with James Webb
In this episode, James Webb and I discuss the lessons America failed to carry forward from past wars, and why institutional memory seems to fade so quickly. We get into the current geopolitical landscape, including Israel, Iran, and the risks of escalation—and what's often left out of mainstream narratives. Jim breaks down how war is actually decided at the highest levels, and why the gap between leadership and the average citizen continues to widen. We also explore the role of moral language in war—how concepts like "good" and "evil" are used, and sometimes misused, in shaping public support. From there, the conversation turns deeper: the spiritual and psychological cost of war, what it does to the people who fight it, and whether modern society has any real framework for dealing with that kind of weight. Finally, we ask the question at the center of it all: If a nation loses its relationship to truth—what is left to die for? ABOUT THE GUEST James (Jim) Webb is a third-generation Marine who, following his service, has worked in policy, politics, and journalism. In 2005, he dropped out of college to enlist in the Marine Corps Infantry and fought in the Battle of Ramadi from 2006–2007. After completing his degree, Jim worked on Capitol Hill for U.S. Senator Rand Paul, where he served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He later worked at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and as a Senior Policy Advisor for presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Jim has also worked as a journalist for multiple outlets, including embedding with U.S. troops across Afghanistan. Get the new Counterflow T-shirt before it sells out! Visit https://www.counterflowpodcast.com/store or send $30 via PayPal to buck@counterflowpodcast.com with your size and shipping address! Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com Audio Production by Podsworth Media: https://www.podsworth.com Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

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