Through The Briars Pod

Why are medieval churches covered in terrifying monsters? Gargoyles are among the strangest features of Gothic architecture. These grotesque stone creatures appear on cathedrals and churches dedicated to God, surrounded by sacred art, saints and Christian imagery. But why would medieval Christians place monsters on holy buildings? And what can their symbolism teach us about the chaos in our own li...

Why do dragons hoard treasure they can’t actually use? Across mythology, medieval legend and literature, the dragon repeatedly appears alongside gold, caves, guarded treasure, destructive power and heroes who must confront it. But perhaps the dragon represents something much deeper than simple greed. In this episode of Symbolarium , we explore the symbolism of dragons through Beowulf , the story o...

Why do Sirens sing instead of attack? In Homer’s Odyssey , the Sirens don’t overpower Odysseus by force. They attract him with a song so irresistible that he has himself bound to the mast of his ship. Thousands of years later, that ancient monster offers a surprisingly powerful way of understanding distraction, desire, temptation and the battle for our attention. In this episode of Symbolarium , w...

What does it mean to move from the image of God to His likeness? In a world obsessed with limitless self-invention and superficial trends, how do we find our true, stable identity? In this Orthodox Christian youth talk, we explore the deep connection between Beauty (what we love), Identity (what that love makes us), and Responsibility (how the person we are becoming treats others). Centered entire...

The habits destroying your life rarely look dangerous at first. In this episode of Symbolarium, we explore the strange symbolism of the imp — the small, mischievous creature that appears throughout European folklore and Christian-influenced imagination — and what it can reveal about temptation, bad habits, distraction, moral decline and the fragmentation of the human person. Why represent evil as...

Why has the witch been depicted for centuries as crooked, grotesque and surrounded by darkness and why has the modern witch increasingly become beautiful, powerful and desirable? In this episode of Symbolarium, I explore the symbolism of the witch through beauty, moral corruption, power, manipulation and the human desire for control. From traditional witch imagery and the Salem witch trials to Sha...

What do angels and demons actually symbolise? In episode one of the Symbolarium, we explore the deeper Christian symbolism of angels, demons, heaven, hell, identity, order, chaos, and spiritual fragmentation. Why are angels traditionally shown with feathered wings while demons are depicted with bat-like wings, horns, claws, darkness, and distorted forms? Why does Scripture repeatedly associate evi...

What does it actually mean to become a man and what happens when other people begin depending on you? In this conversation, I sit down with one of my former coaches to talk about Christian faith, fatherhood, community, masculinity and responsibility. We discuss how having children can deepen your relationship with God, the difference between strength and hardness, the importance of fathers and men...

Why is the Devil so often portrayed as attractive, intelligent, persuasive or charismatic? Why does temptation rarely look like evil when it first appears? Because if poison always tasted like poison, nobody would drink it. In this episode, we explore the symbolism of the Devil, temptation and the strange relationship between beauty, goodness and evil through Christianity, Orthodox thought, philos...

Why should you pray if God already knows what you need? And why pray at all if you aren’t even sure that God exists? Maybe because we’ve misunderstood what prayer actually is. Prayer isn’t primarily about convincing God to give us what we want. It is an act of attention, orientation and ultimately communion, bringing our desires, fears, gratitude and suffering before God and gradually learning to...

What do AI, social media, pornography, money, dating apps and the smartphone have in common? They aren’t literally fallen angels. But they can reveal an ancient symbolic pattern: something created for a good purpose becomes detached from that purpose, turns downward, and eventually begins ruling the very person it was supposed to serve. In this episode, we explore the symbolism of the fallen angel...

“I don’t need anyone.” It sounds like strength. Independence. Self-respect. Maybe even healing. But sometimes what we call independence is really fear with better branding. After rejection, betrayal, heartbreak or disappointment, it can feel safer to stop needing people altogether. We build walls to keep ourselves from being hurt again, only to discover that the same walls keeping pain out can kee...

Edgar Allan Poe’s first published short story, Metzengerstein, already contains the gothic horror, symbolism, psychological darkness and moral consequence that would come to define his work. In this episode, we explore the strange tale of Frederick Metzengerstein, the ancient rivalry between two noble families, the mysterious tapestry, the burning stables and the supernatural horse that slowly app...

Some people believe they love more deeply than everyone else because they feel intensely, remember every detail, sacrifice constantly and think about the other person obsessively. But intense feelings are not always evidence of healthy love. Sometimes “loving hard” is actually self-abandonment. You give more than anyone asked for, hide your needs, keep a silent record of every sacrifice and eventu...

Why do we still need poetry in the modern world? We possess more information than any civilisation before us, yet we often lack the language to express grief, beauty, mortality, longing, temptation and the hidden movements of the human heart. Poetry does not merely decorate reality, it helps us perceive dimensions of reality that ordinary language can flatten or overlook. In this episode, I explor...

Most people know Journey to the West as the story of the Monkey King. I think it’s something far deeper. This isn’t simply a tale about defeating demons, it is that every demon reveals something you have not conquered. it is one of the greatest stories ever written about bringing the human person into right order. In this episode of Through the Briars, we explore the symbolism of Sun Wukong, Pigsy...

Why do some books stay with us long after we’ve finished them? In this episode, I share the five unique books that completely changed my relationship with reading. These aren’t necessarily the greatest books ever written, they’re the stories I couldn’t stop thinking about, the ones that reignited my love for literature and reminded me why stories matter. Whether you’re trying to get back into read...

Why do intelligent people often struggle to take action? In this episode of Through the Briars, we explore why Hamlet may be the most psychologically accurate character ever written. Shakespeare wasn’t simply writing about indecision, he was exploring analysis paralysis, overthinking, fear of uncertainty, and the modern tendency to consume wisdom instead of living it. We’ll examine iconic moments...

Science has transformed our world. It has cured diseases, expanded our understanding of the cosmos, and revealed the extraordinary complexity of reality. But can science answer every question? In this episode of Through the Briars, we explore the crucial difference between science and scientism, the belief that science is the only valid source of knowledge. Drawing on the ideas of David Hume, Ludw...

Have you ever noticed that Orthodox Christian symbols and esoteric symbols can sometimes appear visually similar? In this episode of Through the Briars, we explore the differences between sacred and esoteric symbolism, discussing symbols such as the serpent, the eye, sacred numbers, invocation vs incantation, and why certain symbols appear across cultures and traditions while ultimately pointing t...

What is symbolism, and why has the modern world largely forgotten how to understand it? In this episode, we explore the symbolic worldview popularized by Jonathan Pageau and rooted in the Christian and Orthodox tradition. We discuss symbolism, unity and multiplicity, facts and stories, purpose, meaning, and the recurring patterns that shape reality. What does it mean to say that facts exist inside...

Why have ravens appeared throughout mythology, literature, and Scripture for thousands of years? From Poe’s The Raven to Odin’s Huginn and Muninn, from Noah’s Ark to Prophet Elijah to Christ’s command to “consider the ravens,” this episode explores one of humanity’s oldest and most mysterious symbols: the raven as a messenger of memory, wisdom, death, and divine mystery. Explore the rich symbolism...

Most of us face a constant battle between our light and dark sides like Dante and Virgil, two brothers embodying the eternal struggle of the human soul. In this episode, uncover how their story on Netflix’s Devil May Cry reflects universal patterns of trauma, power, and self-integration that play out in your life every day. You’ll discover why these characters symbolise two responses to suffering:...

What can William Shakespeare , Fyodor Dostoevsky , Edgar Allan Poe , dark academia, nihilism, and symbolic literacy teach modern culture? In this episode, I break down 8 literature hot takes on beauty, ritual, suffering, psychology, and why the death of symbolism may be leaving modern man spiritually disoriented. #Literature #DarkAcademia #Booktube 

Why does Avatar: The Last Airbender still resonate so deeply years later? In this episode, we explore the hidden symbolism, psychology, mythology, and archetypal storytelling behind Team Avatar, breaking down what Aang, Zuko, Katara, Toph Beifong, and Sokka truly represent through the lens of literature, Jungian psychology, trauma, identity, redemption, and symbolism. From the reluctant hero to th...